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May 31, 2005

180,000 In Phony Money Seized In Incident That Closed Rainbow Bridge

Updated: 5/31/2005 6:58:26 AM

NIAGARA FALLS, NY: Officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they still don't know what caused breathing problems for six people Sunday night at the Rainbow Bridge. The span was closed and Haz-Mat crews called in after the inspections officers were overcome while doing a secondary inspection on a car with Pennsylvania plates. $180,000. in counterfeit U.S.C. was also confiscated. Learn more about this incident...visit Channel 2, WGRZ, Buffalo, NY at: http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.a ... ryid=28822

Secondary reports sadi that the closure of the Rainbow Bridge connecting the United States and Canada for five hours Sunday evening was caused by smugglers who treated counterfeit cash with pepper spray or Mace, authorities said. Authorities speculated that the three men sprayed the bags to cover up the scent of the fake money, anticipating that specially trained police dogs might be used to search the car for contraband at the international border. Additional Information from: The Buffalo News: http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20 ... 058081.asp