Customs agents at O’Hare seize $125,000 in cash headed for Pakistan

Federal agents seized more than $125,000 in undeclared U.S. currency at O’Hare Airport on Tuesday from a family that was traveling to Pakistan.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers selected the family, which was traveling to Pakistan on Etihad Airlines, for an outbound currency verification examination, a release from the agency said.

Prior to departure, CBP officers explained currency reporting requirements and the husband declared the family was departing with $17,000. But a subsequent baggage examination conducted after a routine inspection revealed more than $35,000 in his carry-on bag.

During the examination, currency was discovered concealed in several locations including $5,200 in the pages of a magazine, $19,300 behind pictures in a photo album and $4,500 in a pair of children’s pants.

“Everywhere the officers looked they kept discovering more concealed currency,â€