see also: in January 2009:   CBP Officers Discover 957 Pounds of Marijuana in Concrete Pipes   CBP Canine Detects $600,000 Worth of Marijuana at Douglas Port   CBP Officers Seize $80,000 of Marijuana at Naco Port of Entry   Border Patrol Stops Vehicle, Leads to Meth Seizure   CBP Officers at Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge Seize Fake $20’s Found during Outbound Inspection   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Woman Injured in Car Accident   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Wanted Sex Offender ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Detroit – U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Field Operations officers at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, encountered an individual who was a member of NEXUS Trusted Traveler Program who failed to declare $14,141 when he attempted to enter the country on Sunday.

The driver, a 73-year-old Canadian citizen, from Hamilton, Ontario, arrived at the bridge at approximately 1:20 p.m., Sunday, January 4, using the NEXUS lane. The driver told the officer that he had nothing to declare (alcohol, tobacco, etc.). When asked if he or his passenger were traveling with $10,000 in monetary instruments the driver stated that he had $9,000 USD and $1,200 CAD. The officer referred the vehicle to the secondary inspection area for currency verification.

Verification of the driver’s money resulted in totals of $12,280 USD, $1,351 CAD and a $500 U.S. traveler’s check for a total of $14,141 USD equivalent. When asked about his original declaration of under $10,000 he indicated that he hoped to get across the border quicker if he declared less than what he was carrying.

The money was seized for failure to declare and his NEXUS card was revoked removing him from the Trusted Traveler Program.

“This individual had been entrusted, by his membership in the NEXUS program, with status as a low risk traveler,” said Port Director Roderick Blanchard, “he violated that trust by not declaring the money he was bringing into the country.”

Travelers who participate in the NEXUS program are afforded expedited processing when crossing the border. As a participant in one of CBPs Trusted Traveler Programs, travelers are bestowed with a higher level of trust and confidence in regards to security when crossing the border and violations of this trust will not be tolerated.

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.