C.B.P. News Release

CBP Stops More than $63,000 from Leaving California, Heading into Mexico

(Thursday, October 15, 2009)

San Diego - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers Wednesday stopped $63,197 in undeclared currency from leaving the United States.

Officers stopped a white Toyota 4Runner, driven by a 45-year-old male with two passengers, a 22-year-old and a 54-year-old male. During inspection, officers discovered that the driver had $32,744 concealed in his front pockets and $222 in his wallet. The 54-year-old passenger had $8,000 concealed under his clothes near his groin, and $2,221 in his front pockets. The other passenger also had money hidden on him that totaled less than $10,000.

The same day, officers stopped a white, 1999 Dodge Ram truck driven by a 45-year-old male with three male passengers, ages 21, 26, and 27. During an intensive inspection, officers discovered a suitcase in the bed of the truck with a false compartment containing $20,010 in undeclared currency.

It is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling more than $10,000 to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest.

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
Jackie Dizdul
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (619) 744-5245

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 152009.xml