The law is $10K of currency. If you don't like it get a credit card. He was fined (taxed) and went on his way. If I have $10K in my pocket and get stopped by the cops I have to produce receipts to show it was legally gained and I have paid taxes, if not it gets seized and taxes get taken away unless I can prove otherwise...

Seriously, the drama here is worse than chisme on the island. Mostly by people that don't have a clue.

Try going through an airport into the US and getting searched and having $25K on you; enjoy the cavity search and the detention (with no rights no matter your citizenship by the way).