Over $1M in cash seized at Arizona border

Posted: 06/14/2011
Last Updated: 1 hour and 21 minutes ago
By: Deborah Stocks

NOGALES, AZ - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have made the third largest cash seizure in Arizona since 2007.

According to a CBP news release, officers conducting inspections of vehicles heading out of the U.S. at the Dennis DeConcini Port in Nogales sent a minivan to a secondary inspection after they noted discrepancies in the vehicle's structure Monday.

That inspection revealed a non-factory compartment with 47 bundles of undeclared currency worth more than $1 million.

The driver and passenger, both from Mexico, were taken into custody and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for further investigation.

“Intercepting illicit funds during our outbound inspections has a direct effect on transnational criminal organizations operating in Mexico," said Acting Director of Field Operations, James Tong. "It sends a clear message that we are here and we are working hard to defeat them.â€