2 Mexican Citizens Arrested Leaving US With $184,095 In Unreported Cash

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said seized $184,095 in unreported U.S. currency from an outbound vehicle in Texas, and arrested two Mexican citizens.

On May 2, CBP officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge in Brownsville, Texas, encountered an outbound vehicle driven by a 32-year-old Mexican man with a 33-year-old Mexican woman passenger. The vehicle was selected for a routine secondary inspection.

During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered packages containing unreported bulk U.S. currency totaling $148,610. They also found $5,485 on the driver and $30,000 “concealed on the body” of the passenger.

While it is not a crime to carry more than $10,000 in currency across the border, it is a federal offense not to declare it.

CBP officers seized the currency and the vehicle. Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested the driver and passenger and launched a criminal investigation.

“Securing our borders is a responsibility our officers take seriously whether conducting inbound or outbound inspections,” Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry, said in a statement. “Their vigilance and attention to detail led to this significant currency seizure.”