CBP Officers Seize $106K in Unreported U.S. Currency at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge Port of Entry seized $106,000 in bulk, unreported U.S. currency.

"Our officers remain vigilant as they conduct inspections of inbound and outbound traffic to secure our borders and their attention to detail was instrumental in making this seizure," said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.

The seizure took place on Tuesday, April 12, when CBP officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge encountered a 23-year-old male United States citizen driving a 2005 Jeep, who was selected for a routine outbound inspection. In secondary, with the aid of a canine unit, CBP officers discovered 10 packages containing bulk U.S. currency totaling $106,000 hidden within the vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency along with the vehicle, arrested the driver, and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

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It is not a crime to carry more than $10,000, but it is a federal offense not to declare currency or monetary instruments totaling $10,000 or more to a CBP officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.

Follow the Director of CBP's Laredo Field Office on Twitter at @DFOLaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.