Tag: brownsville

Cash seized by Brownsville CBP displayed to reporters

CBP Texas Seizes $46,085 in Smuggled Cash at Brownsville

CBP officers in Texas are the frontline of the United States in its war against illicit trafficking of narcotics and the proceeds of the sale of narcotics. For this reason, the are skeptical of people who were traveling across the border with large amounts of cash, especially when it is hidden and not reported before discovery.

In a story that comes out of Brownsville Texas, last fall, CBP officers encountered a twenty-year-old Mexican citizen departing the United States from Mexico. As part of the outbound inspection, officers discovered a total of $46,085 hidden inside the vehicle.

This is a classic case of bulk cash smuggling. Bulk cash smuggling occurs whenever anyone with the intent to not report the money to U.S. Customs upon importer export, hides it in some way with the intention that it not be discovered or reported.

Here’s the full story:

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge Port of Entry seized $46,085 in bulk, unreported U.S. currency.

“CBP officers may conduct inspections before travelers leave the United States. This routine inspection led to this seizure and is a testament to the diligence and sense of duty our officers have when carrying out outbound inspections,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.

The seizure took place on Thursday, Oct. 1, when CBP officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge encountered a 20-year-old male Mexican citizen from McAllen, Texas, as the driver of a gray 2012 Ford F-150, who was selected for an outbound inspection. CBP officers conducted a visual and physical search of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of bulk undeclared U.S. currency totaling $46,085 hidden within the vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency and the vehicle, arrested the traveler and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

The penalties for bulk cash smuggling are steep, even if the money is shown to be from a legitimate source and have a legitimate intended use. Moreover, the likelihood of criminal charges arising from the bulk cash smuggling at the Mexico border are greater than for a simple failure to report.

Has Brownsville CBP taken your cash?

If Brownsville CBP has taken your cash, please call our office at (734) 855-4999 to speak to a customs lawyer, or e-mail us through our contact page. We are able to assist with cash seized by customs around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando and many other places, and not just locally in Detroit.

Stacks of Cash Seized by CBP at Veterans International Bridge

CBP Seizes $100k in Cash at Veterans Intl/Los Tomates Bridge

CBP in Brownsville seized nearly $100,000 from a traveler heading to Mexico at the Veterans International Bridge. The story from CBP indicates the man was walking, not driving a vehicle. CBP discovered multiple packages of cash totaling $99,118.

CBP seized the cash because it was not reported, but probably also because it was considered to be bulk cash smuggling.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Veterans International Bridge [Los Tomates] Port of Entry recently seized $99,118 in bulk, unreported U.S. currency.

The seizure took place on Wednesday, May 27, when CBP officers working at the Veterans International Bridge encountered a 26-year-old male United States citizen from Brownsville, Texas, who was selected for a routine outbound inspection. CBP officers conducted a visual and physical search of the traveler and the bags he was carrying which resulted in the discovery of multiple packages of bulk U.S. currency totaling $99,118 hidden on his person and within his bags.

“This important currency seizure was possible because of the diligence and watchfulness of our CBP officers,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.  “I congratulate our officers on this seizure.”

CBP officers seized the currency, arrested the traveler and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

Has Brownsville CBP seized your cash?

If Brownsville CBP seized your cash, we urge you to call us for a consultation before considering doing it yourself. You probably will not be happy with the outcome if you do, based on their’ aggressive posture in most cases. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide (or watch the videos) and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

300k-Cash-Seized-Laredo-CBP

CBP Seizes Over $300K in Currency at Brownsville

CBP in Brownsville intercepted over $300,000 in bulk cash that was being smuggled out of the United States and into Mexico. The story, quoted below, implies that money was hidden within the vehicle in 14 separate packages and the vehicle (a 2013 Dodge Durango, who cares?) was driven by a 36 year old man.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry seized over $300,000 in undeclared currency while conducting enforcement operations.

On Friday, May 22, officers working outbound operations stopped a 2013 Dodge Durango driven by a 36-year-old man, citizen of the United States, traveling to Mexico and referred the man for inspection.  Upon physical inspection of the vehicle, CBP officers discovered 14 packages of undeclared currency in the amount of $306,601. The currency was seized by CBP.

“Exporting undeclared currency in excess of $10,000 can carry serious consequences,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry. “CBP readily upholds its national security mission and our officers are highly skilled to identify these violations and enforce the law.”

The man was arrested and the case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.

Has Brownsville CBP seized your cash?

If CBP in Brownsville has seized your cash, you need a lawyer. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

Pile of cash totaling more than $600,000 seized by U.S. Customs & Border Protection in Brownsville, Teas

Brownsville CBP Seizes $644,285 in Cash

Everything — including CBP cash seizures — are bigger in Texas. Case in point: Last week, CBP officers in Brownsville, Texas, seized more than a half-million in cash from two forty-ish year old U.S. citizens who were heading to Mexico.

The facts in these cases always lead me to believe the currency was being moved as part of the illegal drug trade, and that the men moving the money were likely mules just moving the cash from the sale of drugs made by others, back to the shippers in Mexico. The men picked are likely picked because they do not arouse suspicion, and so CBP should get all the more credit for making a huge seizure such as this.

Here’s the full story (original here) on this mega-cash seizure from Brownsville CBP.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge Port of Entry seized $644,285 in unreported bulk U.S. currency and more than $17,000 in cocaine in separate, unrelated enforcement actions.

“Our CBP officers did an outstanding job in taking down this significant load of bulk currency . . . ” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry. “Their vigilance and experience were key factors in their successful interceptions.”

The . . . seizure took place on Wednesday, Sept. 5, when CBP officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge came in contact with a 42-year-old male United States citizen from Brownsville, Texas, and a 40-year-old male United States citizen from Brownsville, Texas, and a passenger in the same vehicle who were selected for a routine outbound inspection.  With the aid of a non-intrusive inspection system and canine unit, CBP officers discovered multiple packages of bulk U.S. currency totaling $644,285 hidden within the vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency and narcotics, arrested the travelers and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

Has Brownsville CBP taken your cash?

If Brownsville CBP has taken your cash, please call our office at (734) 855-4999 to speak to a customs lawyer, or e-mail us through our contact page. We are able to assist with cash seized by customs around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando and many other places, and not just locally in Detroit.

Piles of cash sit atop evidence bags after seizure by U.S. Customs in Brownsville, Texas

Customs Seizes $46,536 in Bulk Cash at B&M Bridge

Earlier this year, CBP officers in Brownsville, Texas, seized a lot of money from a a pedestrian who was leaving the United States for Mexico, although the man was a Mexican national. Cash seizures by Customs officials at the land border between the United States in Mexico in such a large a mount are usually connected with the illegal drug trade.

That’s just one reason why traveling with $46,000, by foot to Mexico, is more suspicious than flying with $46,000 from Hong Kong to Las Vegas for a trip.

The Customs officers who seized the cash search him, and discovered “multiple packages” of bulk cash that totaled more than $46,000. The cash was seized, and the man was arrested (hint: bulk cash smuggling is a crime). Traveling with money out of the country is not illegal, but traveling with more than $10,000 out of the country and not reporting it to CBP is illegal, and will very likely result in seizure of the money.

The full story follows:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge Port of Entry this weekend seized $46,536 in bulk, unreported U.S. currency.

“Our officer’s constant vigilance and experience made this currency seizure possible,” said Port Director Tater Ortiz, Brownsville Port of Entry.

The seizure took place on Sunday, Mar. 18, when CBP officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge came in contact with a 22-year-old male Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, who was selected for a routine outbound inspection. CBP officers conducted a visual and physical search of the bags the traveler was carrying which resulted in the discovery of multiple packages of bulk U.S. currency totaling $46,536 hidden within the bags.

CBP officers seized the currency, arrested the traveler and turned him over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation.

Have you had bulk cash seized by CBP?

The process of getting undeclared currency seized by CBP back is long and complicated; most importantly, legitimate source and intended use must be proven. If CBP seized bulk cash from you, you can learn more about the process from our trusted customs money seizure legal guide and can contact us for a free currency seizure consultation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

Nearly $60,000 sealed in two clear plastic bags in bundles laying on a table that was confiscated by CBP

CBP Confiscates $57,691 in Cash at Veterans International Bridge

CBP seized almost $60,000 in currency from a two Mexican citizens leaving the United States last Wednesday at the Veteran’s International Bridge. The story from CBP says tells me this was in fact not a failure to report cash, but typical bulk cash smuggling:

The seizure took place on Wednesday, Sept. 21, when CBP officers working outbound inspections at the Veterans International Bridge came in contact with a bronze 2003 Chevy Trail Blazer as it attempted to exit the United States into Mexico. The driver, a 52-year-old female Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and a passenger, a 35-year-old male Mexican citizen also from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, were selected for a routine inspection and were referred to secondary for further inspection. In secondary, with the aid of a K9 unit, CBP officers discovered two packages containing a total of $57,691 in bulk, unreported U.S. currency hidden within the vehicle.

CBP officers seized the currency along with the vehicle, arrested the driver and passenger and turned them over to the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special 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.

Have you had cash confiscated by CBP?

If CBP has confiscated your cash, you need a lawyer. Read our trusted customs money seizure legal guide and can contact us for a free cash confiscation by clicking the contact buttons on this page.

CBP seizes $49,000 cash in Texas

From local news sources, here is a story about a cash seizure by Customs valued at nearly $50,000:

Lopez-Gonzalez and another man, Emilio Gonzalez-Sosa, attempted to cross the international bridge in a maroon and gold 1994 Chevrolet C20 van, according to the criminal complaint and the news release. They denied having more than $10,000 cash — a standard question for people crossing the border.Officers referred the van to secondary inspection, where they discovered $48,995 hidden inside the engine’s intake manifold, according to the criminal complaint.

Head over to the Brownsville Herald and Valley Central to read the full stories.If you have had currency seized from Customs do not try to respond yourself but hire our firm, because we know what we are doing and have successfully handled many cases like yours. If you have questions, please give us a call at (734) 855-4999. We are able to assist with cash seized by customs around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando and many other places, and not just locally in Detroit. Please read these other articles:

  1. Seizure of currency and monetary instruments by U.S. Customs
  2. Seizure for bulk cash smuggling into or out of the U.S.
  3. Structuring currency imports and exports
  4. Is it $10,000 per person?  Under what circumstances is filing a report with Customs for transporting more than $10,000 required?
  5. Criminal & civil penalties for failing to report monetary instrument transportation
  6. Is only cash currency subject to seizure by Customs?
  7. Responding to a Customs currency seizure
  8. How do I get my seized money back?
  9. Getting money seized by U.S. Customs back while staying overseas
  10. How long does it take Customs to decide a petition for a currency/monetary instrument seizure?
  11. Statute of Limitations for Currency Reporting Violations
  12. Filing a Petition for Seized Currency (with Sample and Tips) with CBP
  13. Don’t Talk About Your Customs Currency Seizure Case

 

Over $265,000 Seized by Customs at Brownsville

Currency seizures by U.S. Customs & Border Protection come in all sizes and every different set of circumstances imaginable. The vast majority of our clients have their currency seized when they are arriving or departing the United States at an airport by Customs for an alleged failure to report, bulk cash smuggling, or for structuring violations.

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that also goes for currency seizures. Here in Michigan, we share a very larger border with Canada, but Canada does not have the same reputation as Mexico. So you can imagine the reasons people are transporting more than $10,000 between the United States and Mexico.

Here is one of the those stories that recently hit the news that involves seizure of $267,617 in two separate incidents. The first seizure was effect on a 74 year old man for $217,617, and the second was a 21 year old man with $50,000.

U.S. currency hidden within the vehicle.
74-year-old male United States citizen from San Benito, Texas, was referred to secondary inspection, officers detected packages, which later resulted being unreported U.S. currency hidden within the vehicle.

On June 12 CBP officers working at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge came in contact with a green 1999 Dodge Caravan as it attempted to make entry into the United States from Mexico. The driver, a 74-year-old male United States citizen from San Benito, Texas, was referred to secondary for further inspection. During the inspection and with the use of a vehicle non-intrusive imaging system, officers detected packages, which later resulted being unreported U.S. currency hidden within the vehicle. Officers removed and seized multiple packages of bulk U.S. currency totaling $217,617.

On June 13 CBP officers working outbound operations at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge came in contact with a brown 1999 Chevy Tahoe as it attempted to exit the United States into Mexico. Officers referred the driver, a 21-year-old male United States citizen residing in Matamoros, Mexico for further secondary inspection. During the examination, CBP officers discovered five packages of bulk U.S. currency hidden within the vehicle, totaling $50,000.

 

If you have had your currency seized, please call our office at (734) 855-4999 to speak to a customs lawyer, or e-mail us through our contact page. We are able to assist with cash seized by customs around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Orlando and many other places, and not just locally in Detroit.