X-ray unit nets CBP $610,771 in undeclared bills

Published Tuesday, October 13, 2009 10:01 AM MDT

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers working the Mariposa Port of Entry discovered $610,771 of undeclared currency in two separate seizures.

Spokeswoman Edith Serrano gave the following account:

The first seizure occurred on Sunday, Sept. 27, when officers were conducting routine inspections of travelers and vehicles leaving the United States. They selected for inspection a 2008 Chevy Captiva occupied by two individuals.

Using a mobile x-ray unit to scan the vehicle, officers noticed an anomaly in the image. Upon further inspection, 66 packages containing $555,189 were found hidden within the dashboard area of the vehicle.

The second seizure occurred on Saturday, October 3. CBP officers again were screening travelers and vehicles when they selected a 2004 Chevy Silverado pick-up truck for inspection.

The truck was driven by a 36-year-old man from Sonora.

Officers using the mobile x-ray unit officers discovered packages hidden within a non-factory compartment over the rear tire well of the vehicle. The four packages contained $54,582.

The occupants were arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation.

Criminal complaints were filed in which suspects are charged with criminal activity but raise no inference of guilt.

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