CBP officers seize bulks of cash in Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over $100,000 of unreported cash out of Brownsville in two separate enforcement actions.

The first seizure occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Brownsville & Matamoros International Bridge.

CBP officers say the driver, a 43-year-old man, was selected for a routine outbound inspection, which revealed $36,500 hidden inside the vehicle.

The driver had approximately $639 on him.

(U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

The second seizure occurred on Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Veterans International Bridge.

A 31-year-old woman was selected for a routine outbound inspection when CBP officers discovered approximately $70,013 hidden within her vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency along with the vehicles, arrested the drivers, and turned the drivers over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.

According to CBP, 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.

"Our CBP officers remain vigilant in their efforts to keep our borders secure, and their efforts led to these seizures of unreported currency," said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry. "Seizures of unreported bulk currency often are proceeds from illicit activity, so seizures like these help advance CBP's border security mission."