Never, ever tell a lie. Especially to U.S. Customs

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION

***************************** CBP in Sault Ste. Marie seize $11,000 at International Bridge

SAULT STE MARIE, MI - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) field operations today announced the seizure of over $11,000 from a Canadian citizen as he attempted entry into the United States.

On July 23, 2011, CBP officers encountered a 33-year-old Canadian citizen, as he and a passenger applied for admission into the United States at the International Bridge border crossing in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.

The travelers stated that they were en route to a local casino and also planned to do some shopping.

They were selected for a CBP secondary exam to verify their declared currency.

During the secondary inspection, both individuals filled out a CBP Declaration form to declare how much money each was bringing into the United States.

The driver declared $6,089 in US currency and $220 in Canadian currency while his passenger declared $5000 US and $315 Canadian.

At the same time an inspection of their vehicle yielded a bank receipt dated July 22, 2011 for $11, 289 in US funds from the driver's bank account.

CBP officers asked both individuals and each stated that the money he was carrying was their own.

However, when asked about the bank receipt, both admitted to lying to the officers about ownership of the money and to structuring the money in order to avoid declaring it at the port of entry.

Because the driver and his passenger tried to knowingly evade the reporting requirements by dividing the currency between them, all of the currency, $11,853 USD was seized.

The driver was subsequently refused entry into the United States and he and his passenger were returned to Canada.

“US and international travelers can carry as much money as they would like across the border,” said Devin Chamberlain, port director at the Sault Ste Marie port of entry. “By law anyone carrying or causing to be carried over $10,000 USD must declare it to Customs and Border Protection. The diligence and dedication of our officers played the key role in this interdiction.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security responsible for  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.

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