C.B.P. News Release

Philadelphia CBP Seizes $11k of Clean Concealed Currency

(Thursday, May 05, 2011)

Philadelphia - Money launderers are known to ‘clean’ or ‘wash’ currency for criminal organizations to avoid suspicion from authorities, but one Jamaica-bound passenger’s currency that Customs and Border Protection officers seized Saturday was perhaps the ‘cleanest’ money CBP officers ever saw. That’s because it was concealed inside boxes of Irish Spring bath soap.

During an outbound inspection at Philadelphia International Airport, CBP officers seized $11,143 from a Montego Bay-bound passenger after the man attempted to circumvent federal currency reporting requirements. The man admitted to understanding the currency reporting laws and claimed possessing $3000. CBP officers then discovered $11,343 concealed separately on his person, and in envelopes and six boxes of Irish Spring bath soap in his luggage.

Officers returned $200 to the passenger and seized the remaining $11,143. Officers released the passenger.

“This passenger went to great lengths to deliberately conceal his currency, but he just learned that Customs and Border Protection officers are highly skilled at finding illicit things not meant to be found,â€