Washington-U.S. Customs agents, along with Colombian and Mexican law enforcement officers, last month seized more than $41 million in U.S. currency in Colombia and Mexico ports. It was described as the largest-ever bulk cash container seizure, and included more than $11 million in U.S. currency hidden in bags of ammonium sulfate. Narcotics dealers are known to smuggle bulk cash shipments out of the U.S. to pay for shipments being brought back in. On Sept. 9, some $11.2 million in U.S. currency was found hidden in two shipping containers, each with 20 big bags filled with ammonium sulfate. Sixteen of the 40 bags contained $700,000 in $20 dollar bill denominations. According to Colombian customs inspectors, this seizure is the most cash ever seized by police at a port in Colombia. On Sept. 10, U.S. currency estimated at $11.2 million was also seized at the port of Buenaventura. Between Sept. 11 and 18, smugglers were found to have switched concealment tactics when officials at the Port of Manzanillo, Mexico, made additional seizures estimated at over $25 million hidden inside two shipping containers containing sodium sulfate. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Brandon Alvarez-Montgomery told Green Markets that using fertilizer to hide contraband is not unusual. “Smugglers use all types of unique ways to hide illegal goods such as drugs and money,” he pointed out. “It’s our job to determine through intelligence and investigative resources where and how these things are done.” He added that the investigation is ongoing.
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