September 14, 2007  Laredo, Texas
Customs agents seize more than $80,000 during an outbound inspection

Customs and Border Patrol officers at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge were conducting outbound (southbound) inspections shortly after 11 a.m. and referred a 2000 GMC pickup truck for secondary examination. The truck was being driven by a 31-year-old U.S. citizen from Laredo, Texas who gave a negative declaration for firearms, ammunition and monetary instruments in excess of$10,000.

During the examination, CBP officers detected discrepancies with the pickup's back wall. CBP canine "Clark" alerted to the presenceof the odor of currency emanating from the same area where the discrepancies had been detected. Upon further examination of the back wall and a closer visual inspection, CBP officers discovered several vacuumed sealed bundles containing currency within the wall of the truck's bed.

A total of 8 bundles containing $80,085 in undeclared currency were removed. CBP officers arrested the driver on federal bulk cash smuggling charges and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents who investigated the seizure. The vehicle was seized.

Source: U.S. Customs/Border Patrol