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  4. CBP Officers at the Pharr Bridge Discover Currency, $260K Seized and a Reynosa Man is Arrested

CBP Officers at the Pharr Bridge Discover Currency, $260K Seized and a Reynosa Man is Arrested

Release Date
Tue, 09/18/2012

Pharr, Texas - Officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) seized unreported currency totaling $259,896 from a Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico man attempting to exit the country into Mexico.

"This was a significant amount of currency that our officers seized for not being properly reported and headed into Mexico," said Efrain Solis Jr., port director Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas.

On Monday, September 17, around mid-morning, a white 2012 Fiat 500 arrived at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge outbound lanes attempting to exit into Mexico. CBP officers along with U. S. Border Patrol agents and Pharr police officers working outbound operations encountered the vehicle and driver, a 21-year-old male Mexican citizen from Reynosa and referred him to secondary for further inspection. In secondary officers discovered 25 packages containing U.S. currency which were concealed within the vehicle. CBP seized the unreported currency which totaled $259,896 and the vehicle as well.

The adult male traveler was released to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents for further investigation.

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. Failure to declare may result in seizure of the currency and/or arrest. An individual may petition for the return of currency seized by CBP officers, but the petitioner must prove that the source and intended use of the currency was legitimate.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021