CBP Officers and Agents at the Brownsville Port of Entry Seize $50,199 in Outbound Enforcement Operation

(Monday, January 14, 2013)

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and Border Patrol agents conducting outbound enforcement operations at the Brownsville Port of Entry seized $50,199 in bulk U.S. currency.

On January 11, CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement operations at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge came in contact with a black 2000 Chevrolet Suburban as it attempted to exit the United States and enter Mexico. The driver, a 32-year-old Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico and his passenger, a 37-year-old United States citizen from Houston, Texas were referred to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, a search of the Suburban resulted in the discovery of two packages of bulk U.S. currency hidden within the vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency the vehicle and the case had been referred to U.S. Immigration and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

“This seizure is a result of Brownsville’s CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement at our country’s borders. I commend our team for this outstanding seizure of this undeclared currency,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville.

It is not a crime to carry more than $10,000, but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more 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. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.

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.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/01142013_4.xml


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