see also: in December 2007 News Releases:   Fugitive with $1 Million Bail Apprehended by CBP   Canada, CBP Team to Arrest U.S. Citizen Wanted for Sex Offense Charges With Child   Calexico, Calif. East Port to Extend Hours New Year’s Eve   Quick Action by Border Patrol Agent Saves Life on Christmas Day   CBP Officers Seize Over Half a Million in Cocaine, Marijuana, and Arrest One at Laredo Port of Entry   CBP Detains Missing Wanted Juvenile at Del Rio Port of Entry   CBP in Laredo, Texas Detains ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ Suspect Wanted on Bank Robbery Charges ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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San Juan, P.R. – On December 1, 2007, CBP seized $250,013 while conducting inspection of passengers and cargo headed to the Dominican Republic. One of the bags selected for inspection contained several bundles of US currency. During the interview, the passenger answered that she only had $350. A total of 49 bundles of currency with a total of $250,013 were discovered. The currency was seized and the passenger was arrested and turned over for processing.

If you are transporting currency or monetary instruments in excess of $10,000, or an equivalent amount in foreign currency, at the same time, into or out of the U.S. you must report this to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and complete and file a form. You must complete and file the form even if you are transporting the currency or other monetary instruments on behalf of another person. Failure to file the required form, or failure to provide accurate information on the form, may lead to the forfeiture of the currency or monetary instrument, and/or imprisonment. During this fiscal year alone, Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations in Puerto Rico has seized over $2.6 million in currency.

Also this weekend, in a separate instance, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer intercepted a passenger wanted for bank fraud. Passenger Maurice McDowall arrived from Anguilla at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport on December 1, 2007. During inspection, CBP officers discovered that Mr. McDowall had an outstanding warrant for his arrest issued by the FBI in New York. Upon confirmation of the arrest warrant, Maurice McDowall was turned over to the FBI for processing.

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.