Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Hidalgo, Texas intercepted $715,010 in unreported U.S. currency in a commercial bus attempting to enter into Mexico.
The seizure occurred on Sept. 24, 2019 after officers conducting outbound operations at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge referred a commercial bus for further inspection. A thorough examination, which included the utilization of a non-intrusive imaging system, resulted in officers discovering 32 packages containing U.S. currency hidden within the bus.
The currency denominations included $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, with the majority being $20 bills.
Customs and Border Protection seized the money; the commercial bus and the case remains under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents.
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 Customs and Border Protection officer upon entry or exit from the U.S. or to conceal it with intent to evade reporting requirements.
Failure to declare may result in seizure of the money and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by Customs and Border Protection officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.
