C.B.P. News Release

Border Patrol Seizes Nearly $27,000 During Calif. Vehicle Stop

(Friday, September 18, 2009)

Blythe, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Blythe, Calif. station seized nearly $27,000 suspected to be connected to narcotics sales early yesterday during a vehicle stop.

Blythe Border Patrol agents stopped a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu on Interstate 10 near Blythe, California. During the vehicle stop, a Border Patrol K-9 team conducted a non-intrusive inspection of the vehicle which resulted in a positive alert. Further investigation revealed $26,918 hidden inside a pair of tennis shoes and a travel bag.

Both the driver and the passenger of the Malibu denied any knowledge of the cash. The money was seized and the driver and passenger of the vehicle were transported to the Blythe Border Patrol Station for further investigation.

Border Patrol canines are trained to detect the odor of narcotics and concealed people. In this case, the canine alerted to an odor consistent with narcotics that was emanating from the cash.

So far this fiscal year, the Yuma Sector Border Patrol has seized a total of $460,488 in undeclared currency.

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.

Contacts For This News Release
Yuma Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (928) 341-6520

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2009_5.xml