Thread: What Happened to the Million Cash & the Suspect?

What happened to the million cash & the Suspect?
Michael Webster, Investigative Reporter


Michael Webster, Investigative Reporter
June 05, 2008
U.S. Currency confiscated in traffic stop by El Paso County Sheriff´s Office.

Back in January of this year the El Paso Journal reported that an El Paso County sheriff's deputy pulled over a Freightliner Tractor Trailer on Friday Aug 18, 2008 at I-10 mile marker 45 in the eastern part of EL Paso county. While conducting a search of the trailer he discovered about $1 million in cash.

The sheriff's dept claims a deputy pulled the tractor-trailer over at about 2:48 p.m. After noticing the vehicle was "weaving in and out of traffic," sheriff's spokesman Rick Glancey said. The deputy requested backup after noticing that the driver of the tractor-trailer was acting suspicious. Another deputy with a police dog responded to the scene, and allegedly the dog alerted the deputies to cash inside the rig.

The report then states that while examining the tractor-trailer's cargo, deputies discovered several bundles of cash. Detectives from the El Paso County Sheriff´s office - Special Operations Division were summoned to the scene. Based on size and weight Detectives estimate a-million dollars in cash was confiscated.

An investigation into the discovery of the undeclared cash continues at this time it is believed. A source close to the investigation reports detectives are believed to be investigating where the large amount of cash came from. They are looking into the possibility that the money could be related to illegal drugs and/or terrorist activity.

To date no new information or even basic details have been released by the El Paso County Sheriff's Department. The El Paso Journal has requested additional info on the matter and there has been no response from the Sheriff's office. They will not give the media the suspect´s name, age or if he has been charged and if so what the charge or charges are. This clandestine profile the Sheriff has adopted and the lack of cooperation is highly unusual.

The Sheriff's office did admit by saying," this is a major case and an ongoing investigation is still underway by the Special Operations Division. The identity is still being withheld and it is unknown at this time if any charges will be filed against the driver. It is possible the suspect has secretly been charged and the information withheld from the public which if true that would be in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

An area law enforcement officer has told the El Paso Journal that the investigation is being handled the way that it is because bulk cash smuggling from the United States to Mexico has increased dramatically. According to the feds this is most likely the result of enhanced U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and law enforcement actions, which have made it more difficult for drug traffickers to launder drug proceeds through many U.S. financial institutions. And many of the Mexican drug cartels are suspected of moving the illegal drug money in varies vehicles including tractor trailers.

To read the whole article click on the source link its lengthy


http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/63813

Back in January of this year the El Paso Journal reported that an El Paso County sheriff's deputy pulled over a Freightliner Tractor Trailer on Friday Aug 18, 2008 at I-10 mile marker 45 in the eastern part of EL Paso county.

It's June--Aug. 18, 2008 hasn't happened yet.

I'm assuming its a typo should have been 2007.