In a display of vigilance and scrutiny, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Hidalgo International Bridge recently hit paydirt to the tune of $177,500. The stash of unreported U.S. currency was found in a 2011 Dodge during a routine outbound inspection.
It seems that a routine check quickly turned into anything but ordinary when officers conducting outbound examinations at the bridge unearthed five packages containing the bulk U.S. currency on Tuesday. According to a statement by CBP, this discovery was the result of their consistent attention to detail that safeguards our nation's economic security.
It is important to note the duality of this scenario: while it is not a crime to transport more than $10,000 across U.S. borders, the act of failing to declare such sums to a CBP officer or attempting to conceal them to evade reporting requirements certainly is. In this case, the CBP officers seized the currency and a criminal investigation was initiated by Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
"Our frontline CBP officers maintain strict vigilance whether they are conducting inbound or outbound examinations, and their attention to detail resulted in this significant currency seizure," Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry, told CBP. The seized funds tell a tale of profits lost for those operating outside of the law and gains made in the name of economic security.
For those who find themselves on the unfortunate end of such a seizure, there is procedural recourse. Individuals may petition for the return of seized currency, though they must effectively demonstrate that the source and the intended use were legitimate.
