Nogales Arizona - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers Saturday stopped illegal exportation of $235,000 while screening traffic going into Mexico, thanks to a specially trained detector dog team.
At about 3:30 p.m., CBP officers were screening traffic going into Mexico as part of southbound operations. The officers became suspicious of a 2003 Dodge Ram pick-up being driven by a 45-year-old woman from Tucson, Ariz. With the assistance of the canine team specially trained in the detection of money and weapons, officers searched the vehicle and discovered that the tailgate was loaded with illegal currency.
"Currency or other monetary instruments may seem like a pretty harmless commodity;" said Peter Bachelier, director of all passenger operations at the Mariposa and De Concini ports of entry. "These illegal proceeds are the life line that feeds all criminal and terrorist agendas which ultimately denatures our nation's security. Customs and Border Protection remains committed to the strengthening of our nation."
CBP seized the illegal currency and the vehicle. The woman was turned over to the custody Immigration and Customs Enforcement for further investigation and prosecution.