the amount varies from place to place. At the airports, it was $10K. 60 minutes once sent a person into an airport with $10K and instructions to buy an airplane ticket with part of it. The ticket agent reported him to the feds and they seized the cash. Even though the guy was soon released without charges, 60 minutes never got their money back. Since only the usual far right and far left wingnuts complained about this stuff, nothing was ever done by any part of the government or either establishment political party.