see also: in February 2008:   Marijuana Seized by CBP Officers at San Luis, Ariz. Port   Border Patrol in Tucson Seizes 4 Tons of Marijuana   CBP Officers in Philadelphia Discover Venomous 8-Legged Stowaway   Arizona Event to Assist Border Patrol Applicants   Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Announce International Initiative Against Traffickers in Counterfeit Network Hardware   Border Patrol Apprehends 62 Illegal Migrants Hiding in Arizona House   CBP Officers in Calif. Find Smuggled Women in Truck Engine Compartment ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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El Paso, Texas – On Monday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the El Paso port of entry intercepted a vehicle containing $1,858,085. The money was concealed in the door panels and the rear cargo door of a 1992 Ford Expedition. The seizure is the largest currency seizure made at the El Paso port of entry in more than a decade and possibly the second largest ever.

The seizure was made shortly before 11 a.m. when the vehicle carrying a family of three entered the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) port of entry from Mexico. A CBP officer at the primary inspection booth noticed that the driver of the vehicle was nervous during a routine inspection. The CBP officer began to search the vehicle using a "Buster" density meter and received high readings consistent with hidden contraband. The CBP officer examined a door more closely and spotted bundles of U.S. currency wrapped in clear plastic tape behind the panel.

CBP officers took custody of the driver and continued their inspection of the vehicle. They discovered bundles of currency concealed in all five doors of the vehicle. Denominations discovered included $100’s, $50’s, $20’s, $10’s and $5’s.

"This is an exceptionally significant currency seizure," said Gene Garza, CBP acting Director of Field Operations in El Paso. "The majority of currency seizures made at this port of entry are of the five figure variety. Taking almost $2 million away from a criminal organization in an instant really hits hard."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested the driver of the vehicle on currency smuggling charges. He is identified as 42-year-old Saul Sanchez, a Mexican citizen residing in Kansas City, Kan. His spouse and their 2-year-old child were released. The investigation continues.

In what is believed to be the largest currency seizure on record at the El Paso port, officers at BOTA stopped $5,649,760 that was being smuggled out of the country on April 9, 1997. Other large El Paso port of entry currency seizures include $692,543 confiscated at BOTA on July 7, 2003; $559,634 seized at BOTA on April 23, 1993; and $554,143 confiscated at BOTA on Dec. 16, 1993.

Individuals are permitted to carry any amount of currency or monetary instruments into or out of the U.S. However if the quantity is $10,000 or higher, they must formally report the currency to CBP.

There was 2,366-pound marijuana seizure also made at the BOTA port of entry Monday. The drugs were discovered in a commercial truck arriving from Mexico shortly after 7 a.m. CBP officers selected a 1993 International tractor towing an unloaded trailer for an x-ray exam. While scanning the vehicle, CBP officers detected an anomaly in the appearance of the trailer floor. CBP drug sniffing dog "Quijote" search and alerted to the floor of the trailer. CBP officers initiated an intensive inspection of the floor and discovered 213 marijuana-filled bundles concealed inside.

ICE special agents arrested the driver of the tractor-trailer in connection with the failed smuggling attempt. He is identified as 32-year-old Alberto Piedra Gutierrez of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.

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.