Thread: CBP in San Diego Seizes $90,000 in Cash Outbound

C.B.P. News Release

CBP in San Diego Seizes $90,000 in Cash Leaving Country

(Wednesday, September 09, 2009)

San Diego — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers conducting southbound operations at the California ports of San Ysidro and Otay Mesa stopped a total of $89,968 in undeclared currency from leaving the country in three separate instances.

The largest cash seizure occurred Tuesday, September 8 at about 7:15 a.m. when officers conducting southbound operations along the I-5 south, stopped a bus and inspected its passengers. CBP officers encountered three undocumented Mexican male citizens ages 37, 19, and 16 traveling together, and upon further inspection discovered large amounts of money inside their wallets.

Officers found additional money hidden in the waistbands and shoes of the two adult passengers. A total of $51,346 was found and seized.

The 37-year-old man was arrested and is being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Also on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m., CBP officers conducting southbound inspections along the I-905 encountered a 68-year-old female U.S. citizen traveling in a taxi-cab who declared $10,000 in cash. Upon verification of her claim, officers discovered an endorsed check for $23,000 in her possession. CBP seized the $23,000 check.

Today at 8:30 a.m., officers pulled over the 30-year-old male driver of a Dodge Caravan as he headed southbound on the I-5 freeway. The driver, a lawful permanent resident, claimed he had $1,000 in cash. Officers conducted an inspection of the vehicle and found a briefcase that contained a total of $12,622 in U.S. and Mexican currency.

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.

Contacts For This News Release
Angelica De Cima
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (619) 652-9966 Ext: 191
Fax: (619) 645-6641

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2009_8.xml

More money for reimbursements of illegal aliens ... GREAT!