C.B.P. News Release

El Paso CBP Officers Find the Green on St. Patrick’s Day, Nearly $300,000 Seized in El Paso

(Wednesday, March 18, 2009)

El Paso, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Border Security Enforcement Task Force on Tuesday at the El Paso port of entry intercepted nearly $300,000 that was destined for Mexico. The undeclared currency shipment was concealed in a spare tire.

Members of the ICE-led BEST were conducting outbound operations alongside CBP officers at the Bridge of the Americas on Tuesday.

Nearly $300,000 in undeclared currency hidden in a tire was confiscated by El Paso CBP.

On Tuesday, March 17, about 11 p.m., CBP officers came in contact with a 2006 Chevrolet pickup driven by Gualberto Rivera-Carrasco. CBP officers obtained a negative declaration for firearms, ammunition, and monetary instruments in excess of $10,000 from Rivera and initiated an inspection. An X-ray scan of the spare tire revealed anomalies inside the tire. The officers continued the exam and discovered 26 bundles of U.S. currency wrapped in black tape.

“The primary focus for CBP at international ports of entry is arriving passengers and trade as a means of securing our country and economy,â€