Thread: Nearly $300,000 in Cash Uncovered at Hidalgo Bridge

Nearly $300,000 in Undeclared Cash Uncovered at Hidalgo Bridge

Last Update: 6:16 pm

HIDALGO – Almost $300,000 in undeclared cash was seized by Customs officers and Border Patrol agents working on an operation targeting traffic headed into Mexico at the Hidalgo International Bridge.

The CBP officers and agents inspected a commercial bus at the bridge Tuesday. They discovered $277,556 in undeclared bulk cash in the baggage of one of the passengers.

The 33-year-old female Mexican citizen from Nuevo Leon and the cash were turned over to ICE officials.

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C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers at Hidalgo International Bridge Seize $277K in U.S. Currency

(Wednesday, March 02, 2011)

Hidalgo, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement operations at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized $277,556 in bulk U.S. currency Tuesday afternoon.

On Mar. 1, CBP officers and Border Patrol agents working outbound enforcement operations at the Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge came in contact with a commercial bus that was traveling south headed into Mexico. A CBP officer referred the bus, passengers and driver to secondary for further inspection.

While in secondary, officers seized $277,556 in undeclared bulk U.S. currency that was discovered within the baggage allegedly belonging to a 33-year-old Mexican citizen from Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, México.

The female traveler was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

“In less than one week, this is the second significant amount of bulk U.S. currency seized during an outbound enforcement operation," said Hector A. Mancha, CBP port director, Hidalgo/Pharr. “I commend our frontline officers for their work and roles in intercepting and seizing this huge amount of undeclared money that was headed into Mexico.â€