The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, during an outbound examination at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge in Laredo, seized over $125,000 in unreported currency hidden within a vehicle. The seizure took place on November 20, further highlighting the vigilant efforts of CBP officers in maintaining law and order.
"@CBP officers conducting outbound operations selected a 2014 Chevy Malibu driven by a 36 y.o. male and discovered a total of $125,306 in unreported currency hidden within the vehicle at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge. Currency was seized.", said Donald R. Kusser.
Delving into specifics of the incident, According to a CBP news release, a 36-year-old male U.S. citizen was behind the wheel of a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu on Nov. 20 when agents selected his car for an outbound examination. After a thorough inspection, agents at the Laredo Port of Entry discovered a total of $125,306 in unreported currency hidden within the vehicle.
Discussing this achievement, "It is important to acknowledge the efforts of our CBP officers who continue to maintain law and order," said Port Director Alberto Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. "Currency seizures intercepted play a significant role in reinforcing border security and safeguarding communities from the threat of illicit activities."
Moving onto further proceedings, A criminal investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) who arrested the motorist, according to a news release.
The rules governing such incidents are clear-cut as per CBP regulations, The media release states that it is legal to carry over $10,000, but it is illegal not to declare money over that threshold when entering or leaving a U.S. entry port. Individuals who do not declare that they are carrying over $10,000 are subject to arrest, along with their money being seized. A petition can be initiated for the money to be returned, but the party in question has to prove the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.
Furthermore, examining seizure trends at a broader level, The 2024 fiscal year, which runs from October to September, is already underway and customs agents across the country have already seized $3.6 million, according to statistics from the CBP website. Last fiscal year, agents seized over $53 million.
