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CBP Officers Start April with Money Smuggling Case

Release Date
Wed, 04/03/2013

NOGALES, ARIZ.—A female Mexican national was arrested yesterday for attempting to smuggle $61,850 of unreported U.S. currency into Mexico through the Mariposa Port.

Customs and Border Protection officers were conducting outbound inspections and selected a Dodge sedan for further inspection. During the search, a CBP officer noticed the woman, Nancy Melina Lopez-Martinez, 36, of neighboring Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, appeared to be concealing something under her clothing. That "something" turned out to be wrapped bundles of unreported currency.

Lopez, the vehicle and cash were turned over to state and local authorities for further processing.

CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation's ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021