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  4. CBP at JFK Seizes More Than $210,000 in Fake U. S. Currency

CBP at JFK Seizes More Than $210,000 in Fake U. S. Currency

Release Date
Tue, 07/29/2014

JAMAICA, N.Y. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at a John F. Kennedy International Airport cargo facility seized 2,105 counterfeit $100 bills during a two-day period.

On July 15, 2014, CBP officers examined an express consignment shipment manifested as “Handycrafts Pictures” containing 20 laminated pictures and three electronic protective cases.  During the examination, CBP officers discovered a large quantity of suspected counterfeit US $100 bills within the laminated pictures and protective cases.  The bills were in fact counterfeit, and a total of 1,252 counterfeit US $100 bills were seized.

The next day CBP officers examined an express consignment shipment manifested as “Handycraft Bags” that contained one electronic case and three organizer bags.  CBP officers found a total of 853 counterfeit US $100 bills.

In total 2,105 counterfeit bills were seized over a two-day period for a total of $210,500 and turned over to U. S. Secret Service for further investigation. Both packages arrived from Ecuador.

“CBP has quite a diverse mission and this counterfeit currency seizure illustrates the vast responsibility that CBP officers deal with on a daily basis,” said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations.

“The men and women of Customs and Border Protection at JFK Airport continue to be a strong partner in our continued suppression of counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes entering the United States,” said John McQuade, Resident Agent in Charge, U. S. Secret Service JFK Resident Office.

There have been no arrests to date as a result of this seizure, the investigation is on-going.  All counterfeit monetary instruments will be destroyed.  All defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021