Customs Seizes $11K of Really “Clean” Money

Montego Bay bound-man tries to hide thousands in boxes of Irish Spring at Philly Internationa

One Jamaica-bound passenger at Philadelphia International Airport likes his money “Fresh and clean as a whistle,” but he’s going to have to search for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to get it back.

Customs and Boarder Protection seized $11,143 from a man who hid the thousands of dollars in individual boxes of Irish Spring soap, authorities say.

“This passenger went to great lengths to deliberately conceal his currency,” said Allan Martocci, Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia. “Passengers who conceal currency to avoid reporting requirements are essentially smuggling money out of the country. They risk losing their currency and may face criminal charges.”

The man who likes his money “clean,” could have kept it all if he had only declared it to the customs officials, authorities say, because there is no limit to the amount of currency travelers can import to or export from the United States. But they must declare amount exceeding $10,000.

 “The easiest way to hold on to your currency is to report it,” said Martocci. “It’s that simple.”

During a typical day during 2010, Customs and Border Protection seized $348,527 in undeclared or illicit currency, authorities say.
 

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