Thread: AZ. CBP Seizes $200,000 in Undeclared Currency Leaving U.S.

C.B.P. News Release

Arizona CBP Seizes $208,000 in Undeclared Currency Leaving U.S.

(Thursday, March 04, 2010)

Nogales, Ariz. — During less than a week, Customs and Border Protection officers conducting outbound enforcement operations at the Nogales, Ariz. port of entry stopped three currency smuggling attempts and seized more than $208,000 as a result.

The first incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. February 27, when officers encountered a 37-year-old Mexican woman who was a passenger on a commercial bus leaving the country through the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry.

While asking routine questions, the officers became suspicious of her answers and decided to conduct an examination of her baggage. During the inspection, they discovered bundles of currency hidden among her bags, in her clothing, and in a stuffed animal. The undeclared currency, $58,291, was seized and the woman was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents for further investigation into the smuggling attempt.

The second incident happened around noon March 3 when officers encountered a 48-year-old Mexican woman and a 47-year-old Mexican man leaving the country in a Nissan Sentra. During routine questioning, the officers became suspicious and decided to inspect the vehicle and people. During the inspection, they discovered $49,873 in undeclared currency and negotiable checks hidden on the people. The currency and checks were seized and the man and woman were turned over to ICE for further investigation.

The third incident happened a little after 2 p.m. March 3 when officers working at the Morley pedestrian entrance encountered a 32-year-old woman, a 40-year-old man, and a 28-year-old woman, all from Mexico, traveling together leaving the country on foot. During questioning, officers became suspicious of the behavior and answers to questions, so they decided to inspect their baggage. During the inspection, the officers found bundles of currency hidden inside blankets, inside bags and inside the boots of one of the women. A total of $100,740 in undeclared currency was seized and the man and women were turned over to ICE 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
Brian Levin
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (520) 407-2319 or
(800) 973-2867
Fax: (520) 407-2350

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2010_3.xml

Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse Packing Moola

Brady McCombs
March 4, 2010 2:16 pm

Customs and Border Protection officers discovered $58,291 in undeclared cash inside the luggage of a 37-year-old woman who was on a bus heading into Mexico, including some inside this Mickey Mouse stuffed animal. .
..When it comes to smuggling cash into Mexico, even Mickey Mouse stuffed animals are fair game.

Last Saturday at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in downtown Nogales, U.S. Customs and Border Protection discovered $58,291 in undeclared cash inside the luggage of a 37-year-old woman who was on a bus heading into Mexico, according to a Customs press release.

The money was stuffed in her bags, her clothing and yes, a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal. You can see the picture at left.

The woman, and cash, were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It was one of three large cash seizures made in the past week in Nogales by Customs and Border Protection officers doing outbound inspections, the press release shows.

On Wednesday, officers found $49,873 in cash and negotiable checks hidden on the bodies of several people inside a Nissan Sentra.

That same day, officers discovered $100,740 in undeclared cash inside the baggage of three people trying to walk through the Morley pedestrian gate in Nogales, located east of the Dennis Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry. They found the cash inside blankets, bags and inside one of the woman’s boots.

I have a story on outbound cash seizures at the southwest border ports of entry scheduled to run this Sunday, so check it out. They’ve spiked in the past 1 1/2 years as a result of more southbound inspections.

If you don’t know, here’s the rule on leaving the country with currency:

Federal law allows people to take unlimited amount of money out of the country but it requires a person to declare amounts larger than $10,000. Failure to do that is punishable by up to five years, a $250,000 fine, or both. If the non-declaration is in connection with another crime such as drug smuggling or money laundering, or if the person has failed to declare more than $100,000 over one year, it can be punishable up to 10 years, $250,000 fine, or both.

P.S. If you have kids — or you just like watching Mickey Mouse cartoons — you'll get the headline.

http://www.azstarnet.com/news/blogs/bor ... 03286.html