EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Border officers say they seized $184,000 in cash from a man and a woman headed to Mexico in a vehicle over the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge.
The May 2 seizure took place after Customs and Border Protection officers checking cars leaving the U.S. selected a 2022 Fiat for an in-depth inspection.
Officers combed over the Fiat and found packages hidden in the vehicle with $148,610 in U.S. currency, CBP said in a statement late Monday.
Border officers then turned their attention to the 32-year-old Mexican driver and his 33-year-old female passenger, also from Mexico. The driver was carrying $5,485 with him; the woman had $30,000 concealed on her body, CBP said.
The man and the woman were arrested, the $184,095 and the vehicle were seized. Homeland Security Investigations agents have taken over the investigation of the origin of the cash and who was supposed to get it.
CBP said it’s not illegal to carry $10,000 or more in cash, but it’s a federal offense not to declare it upon entry or exit from the United States. This is governed by a regulation put in place to prevent money laundering, tax evasion and the funding of terrorism, among others. Penalties include up to five years in prison.
If you have a legitimate reason to carry that much cash in an out of the country – to purchase land or a vehicle or a tractor, for instance – the Treasury Department recommends filling FinCEN Form 105 and notifying CBP in advance.
“Securing our borders is a responsibility our officers take seriously whether conducting inbound or outbound inspections,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz of the Brownsville Port of Entry. “Their vigilance and attention to detail led to this significant currency seizure.”