C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers Seize $300,000 in Undeclared Currency at Arizona Border

(Tuesday, December 15, 2009)

Nogales, Arizona - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Mariposa, Ariz. port of entry yesterday discovered $300,032 in undeclared currency hidden inside a suitcase and arrested two men from Sonora, Mexico.

On Monday afternoon, CBP officers were conducting routine inspections of vehicles leaving the United States when they selected a 1994 Chevy pick-up truck for inspection. The truck was occupied by two Mexican men, ages 19 and 46.

While conducting their inspection, CBP officers opened a suitcase that was inside the truck and discovered 30 packages wrapped in black electrical tape. After a CBP Currency/Weapons Detector Dog alerted to the suitcase, officers removed the packages and seized $300,032 as undeclared currency.

Both occupants of the truck were arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

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
Edith Serrano
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (520) 375-5785

http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_re ... 152009.xml