U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized more than $17,000, along with a fraudulent permanent resident identity card and a fraudulent social security card from a 54-year old woman at the Washington-Dulles International Airport.
The woman arrived into the United States from Peru via Colombia on Tuesday. During a brief examination, the woman initially reported she carried $3,000, which she then changed to $5,000. After a brief inspection, CBP officers discovered a total of $15,870 in U.S. dollars and an additional $1,189 in Peruvian sol. CBP agents then discovered the fraudulent permanent resident card and social security card, both of which had her name on it.
“These seizures are an example of the vigilance demonstrated by Customs and Border Protection officers every day at our nation’s international ports of entry to intercept illegal activity and closely examine travelers that our laws identify as needing further scrutiny,” Wayne Biondi, area port director for CBP, said.
The officers declined to criminally prosecute the woman. However, she was removed from the United States for possession of fraudulent documents.
In October, CBP agents at the Washington-Dulles International Airport seized a total of $186,719 in unreported currency in six individual incidents. In each incident, CBP officers allowed travelers the opportunity to report the currency prior to officers examining their luggage. In each situation, CBP officers discovered additional currency above what the travelers reported they possessed.
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 the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry.