Laredo CBP seizes unreported U.S. currency, driver arrested at Texas border crossing

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Laredo CBP seizes currency at border

Highlights

U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized $272,940 in unreported U.S. currency hidden within a vehicle floor at the Laredo Port of Entry on April 21.
Officers used nonintrusive inspection technology to detect the hidden cash in a southbound 2017 Dodge Journey, arrested the driver, and began a Homeland Security criminal investigation.
Bulk cash seizures like this one often disrupt funds linked to illicit activity and are a key component of broader cross-border enforcement at South Texas ports.

Currency seizure at outbound inspection

As reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officers at the Laredo Port of Entry uncover $272,940 in unreported bulk U.S. currency hidden within a vehicle floor during an inspection on April 21.

CBP says officers select a southbound 2017 Dodge Journey for routine outbound examination at the Colombia-Solidarity Bridge. After referring the vehicle for secondary inspection and using nonintrusive inspection technology, officers find the concealed cash. Authorities seize both the vehicle and the currency, while Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrest the driver and begin a criminal investigation.

Albert Flores, port director for the Laredo Port of Entry, says frontline officers remain vigilant in the outbound environment and that the case results in a significant currency seizure. He adds that bulk cash seizures often involve proceeds from illicit activity and can disrupt the finances of foreign terror organizations.

Reporting rules and border enforcement impact

U.S. law allows individuals to carry more than $10,000 in currency, but travelers must declare amounts of $10,000 or more to a CBP officer when entering or leaving the U.S. Concealing the funds to avoid reporting requirements is a federal offense and can lead to seizure of the money or arrest.

CBP says individuals may petition for the return of seized currency, but they must show that the funds came from a legitimate source and were intended for a lawful use. The case highlights the role of outbound inspections at South Texas ports of entry, where cash interdictions remain part of broader efforts to disrupt cross-border criminal activity.

Our earlier article on the House-passed DHS funding bill explained how lawmakers moved to restore operations across DHS agencies and provide multi-year resources for ICE and CBP. We noted that the measure was framed as strengthening border security and enforcement capacity, while reducing the risk of future DHS-related shutdowns tied to partisan budget disputes.

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