Thread: $475,090 in U.S. Currency Bound for Mexico Seized at Calexico

CBP Officers at the Calexico Downtown Port Intercept $475,090 in U.S. Currency Bound for Mexico

(Friday, October 12, 2012)

Calexico — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted $475,090 in undeclared U.S. currency during an outbound enforcement operation at the Calexico downtown port of entry, on October 11.

A CBP detector dog led officers to the discovery of 46 vacuum sealed packages containing $475,000 in U.S. currency concealed inside the vehicle’s gas tank.

The incident occurred at 12:30 p.m. when officers, conducting outbound inspections, referred a black 2009 Mazda 6 for further examination.

The driver, a 24-year-old male U.S. citizen and resident of San Bernardino, California, gave officers a negative declaration to possessing more than $10,000 in currency or monetary instruments.

The examination included the use of a detector dog which led officers to the discovery of 46 vacuum sealed packages containing U.S. currency concealed inside the vehicle’s gas tank.

CBP officers arrested the driver and seized the money and vehicle.

“This seizure demonstrates the ongoing commitment of our officers to enforcing U.S. laws and stopping the flow of illegal proceeds and weapons from going into Mexico,” said Port Director Billy Whitford.

It is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling more than $10,000 to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Department of Homeland Security

CBP Officers at the Calexico Downtown Port Intercept $475,090 in U.S. Currency Bound for Mexico - CBP.gov

Over $11M Worth of Marijuana Seized by Border Patrol Agents
10/15/2012 05:39 PM EDT
Laredo, TX - On October 11, Laredo South agents were assigned to a temporary Border Patrol checkpoint located on Interstate Highway 83 south of Laredo, agents noticed a 2006 Red Mack Truck hauling a large metal box container make an abrupt U-turn and began driving erratically southbound on Zapata Highway. (more)

Over $2.4M Worth of Marijuana Seized by Border Patrol Agents
10/12/2012 05:23 PM EDT
Laredo, Texas - On October 10, Laredo North agents assigned to the Border Patrol checkpoint located on Interstate Highway 35 encountered a 2008 Blue Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by a 55-year-old U.S. Citizen from Waco, Texas, at the primary inspection lane. (more)

CBP Officers Find Methamphetamine Concealed in New Mexico Woman's Undergarments
10/12/2012 05:23 PM EDT
El Paso, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the El Paso, Texas port of entry seized almost three pounds of methamphetamine Thursday night. The drugs were hidden on the body of a 47-year-old New Mexico woman."CBP officers remain vigilant knowing that at any moment they may be facing a drug smuggler," said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Port Director. (more)

CBP Officers Seize Assault Rifles Bound for Mexico
10/12/2012 05:23 PM EDT
San Luis, Ariz. - A Yuma man was arrested this morning for attempting to smuggle assault weapons out of the United States. Customs and Border Protection officers and Border Patrol agents conducting outbound operations at the Port of San Luis referred Ramon Avitia, 18, for a secondary inspection of the Jeep SUV that he was driving. (more)

El Centro Sector Border Patrol Halts Smuggling Attempt, Arrests 7
10/12/2012 05:23 PM EDT
Calexico, Calif. -U.S. Border Patrol agents yesterday stopped a vehicle used to smuggle five people and arrested two suspected alien smugglers.The incident occurred at around 1:50 p.m., when agents witnessed six people load into a green Dodge Ram pick-up truck near the international border, approximately 12 miles east of Calexico. (more)

CBP Seizes 200 Flammable Mattresses
10/11/2012 05:16 PM EDT
Los Angeles - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists, in collaboration with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigators, seized 200 cotton mattresses at Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex for violating the Flammable Fabrics Act. (more)

CBP and Coast Guard Intercept Go-Fast Vessel With 1,452 Pounds of Cocaine
10/11/2012 05:16 PM EDT
San Juan, Puerto Rico - Federal law enforcement authorities under the Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) arrested two smugglers, seized a go-fast vessel and a 22-bale of cocaine shipment, totaling 660 kilos (1,452 pounds) in waters south of Puerto Rico Tuesday morning. (more)

CBP U.S. Border Patrol Agents Seize Nearly $1.5 Million in Narcotics During Last Five Days
10/11/2012 05:16 PM EDT
San Diego - U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted five narcotic smuggling attempts since Saturday resulting in the seizure of methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana worth an estimated $1,455,290. On Saturday at approximately 12 p.m., agents at the Interstate 8 checkpoint encountered a 20-year-old male United States citizen driving a 2002 Suzuki XL7. (more)

www.cbp.gov

Local News for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Chicago Customs and Border Protection Officers and Chemists Find New Harmful Highs Coming to America
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Chicago - The illegal world of imported synthetic drugs has exploded in recent years with the volume of designer highs reaching whole new levels of mysterious molecular harm. As federal narcotics regulations broaden to include more illegal substances, illicit foreign chemists are wasting no time in concocting and selling new nonscheduled mimicking variations over the internet, hoping to circumvent Schedule 1 Controlled Substance classifications in the United States. (more)

CBP Seizes Lead-Contaminated Children's Halloween Costumes in Seattle
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Seattle - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) investigators recently seized two shipments of children's Halloween pirate costumes for containing eleven times the legal limit of lead.The shipments originated in China, and were destined for a distributor in the Seattle area. (more)

CBP Officers at Laredo Port of Entry Seize 92 Pounds of Undeclared Cheese; Driver Fined
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Laredo, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers this week seized nearly 100 pounds of undeclared cheese hidden in a vehicle driven by a local woman. The seizure occurred on Saturday, Oct. 6 at Gateway to the Americas Bridge. A CBP officer referred a Ford Windstar driven by a 29-year-old female U. (more)

Lukeville CBP Officers Seize 16 Packages of Pot in Spare Tire
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Lukeville, Ariz. - A Glendale man was arrested Friday, October 12, for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly $26,000 worth of marijuana into the United States through the Lukeville port of entry. Customs and Border Protection officers referred Erick Gaxiola Jr. (more)

Douglas CBP Officers Seize Vehicle Loaded With Marijuana
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Douglas, Ariz. - A Mexican national, who is a permanent resident of the United States was arrested on Sunday, October 14, for attempting to smuggle more than $51,000 worth of marijuana through the Customs and Border Protection Douglas port of entry. . (more)

Border Patrol Seizes Marijuana and Arrests MS-13 Gang Member
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Yuma, Ariz. - Customs and Border Protection Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents seized 66 pounds of marijuana and arrested a member of the MS-13 gang during separate incidents on Saturday, October 13. Wellton Station agents patrolling near Gila Bend early in the morning, discovered two individuals walking in the desert and carrying large backpacks. (more)

CBP Officers at the Anzalduas International Bridge Seize Close to $2.5M Worth of Cocaine
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Anzalduas, Texas- Officers with Customs and Border Protection, (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Anzalduas International Bridge seized approximately $2,500,000 worth of alleged cocaine and arrested a man from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico on Sunday. (more)

Border Patrol Agents Rescue Six Undocumented Immigrants
10/16/2012 05:06 PM EDT
Agents assigned to the Laredo North and Freer station rescued a total of six undocumented immigrants from Mexico over the weekend. The first incident occurred on Saturday, October 13, when agents working at the Interstate Highway 35 checkpoint encountered a 2003 Orange Chevrolet Avalanche at the primary inspection lane. (more)

www.cbp.gov