U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Ysleta Port of Entry in El Paso recently seized $131,675 in undeclared currency hidden inside a BMW X4. According to officials, a female Mexican national attempted to smuggle the money across the border on September 17 by concealing it in 16 foil-wrapped bundles placed in a non-factory compartment within the vehicle’s fenders. The case has been accepted for prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The seizure is part of ongoing efforts by CBP to disrupt illegal activities along the U.S.-Mexico border. In Fiscal Year 2025 through August, CBP's El Paso Field Office has confiscated over $2.7 million in currency and 31 firearms at area ports of entry. Additionally, officers have seized more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition during this period.
“Stopping the flow of illegal currency, firearms, and ammunition is an important part of disrupting the illegal activities of criminal and foreign terrorist organizations operating in our U.S.-Mexico border region,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations. “By denying these dangerous organizations the flow of illicit money, weapons, and ammunition, our CBP officers assist our law enforcement partners on both sides of the border as they contend with these threats.”
CBP describes itself as America's largest law enforcement organization and unified border management agency with more than 65,000 personnel protecting U.S. borders by enforcing safe travel and trade while supporting economic prosperity and national security.
