U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly $150 million in combined unreported currency on three separate occasions, cautioning travelers to report currency equal to or exceeding $10,000.
CBP officers seized a combined total of $148,693 in unreported currency. Officers stopped a 37-year-old man at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Sept. 10 and referred his vehicle for further examination. Authorities said he did not claim the currency and presented his passport card to CBP officers.
A currency and firearm detector dog alerted CBP officers of the vehicle’s trunk, which held $49,600 in bundles.
“Travelers are constantly reminded that transporting any amount of currency is not illegal,” said Anne Maricich, CBP Acting Director of Field Operations in San Diego. “However, all currency equaling $10,000 or greater must be reported to CBP officers when traveling in or out of the country to avoid facing potential criminal prosecution or the seizure of their currency.”
Two male drivers heading into Mexico through the Calexico downtown port of entry failed to declare currency to officers on separate occasions. During the inspection, CBP officers discovered bundles of U.S. currency concealed underneath the travelers’ clothing totaling $45,988, and another $53,105 was found taped to the traveler’s legs.
All drivers were released from CBP custody, but officers seized the U.S. currency.
