$175,000 found in Jeep

By Hailey Persinger
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 4:12 p.m.

SAN YSIDRO — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested a 25-year-old man Tuesday afternoon as he tried to cross into Mexico with more than $175,000 in unreported cash, authorities said.

The man, a Mexican citizen who was living legally in the United States, was driving his Jeep south through the San Ysidro port of entry about 4:30 p.m. when officers asked him to pull over for a secondary inspection, said Customs spokeswoman Angelica De Cima.

With the help of a currency and firearms detector dog, officers discovered $175,251 vaccum-sealed in bags and hidden inside the passenger side door.

Officers arrested the man, who was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center in downtown San Diego.

The Jeep and cash were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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