August 11, 10

NEWS / Nogales CBP Officers Seize More Than $20,000 in Undeclared Currency

Nogales, Ariz. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Nogales Port of Entry stopped an illegal exportation of more than $20,000 while screening traffic going into Mexico.

On Aug. 5, at approximately 5:15 p.m., CBP officers were screening traffic going into Mexico as part of outbound operations. The officers selected a 1991 maroon Honda Accord driven by a 24-year-old man from Phoenix, Ariz. for inspection. During the inspection, CBP officers observed discrepancies which led to the discovery of two bundles of money hidden within the engine compartment totaling $20,020.

“When we prevent weapons and currency from leaving through our ports of entry with seizures such as these,” said Nogales Port Director Guadalupe Ramirez. “It is just as damaging to smuggling organizations as the seizures of their inbound narcotics.”

CBP Officers seized the undeclared currency and the vehicle and the man was arrested and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/08092010_6.xml