Alert Officers in Guam Discover Almost $900,000 in Passengers' Checked Baggage
News & Happenings
February 29, 2008
Transportation Security Officer (TSO) Tomas Cruz and others discovered almost $900,000 while screening checked baggage at the Antonio Won Pat-Guam International Airport Thursday morning. Two passengers were destined for Manila, Philippines when their trip was interrupted by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials after the discovery by the astute TSOs.
TSA Guam Federal Security Director Daniel Astorga said this find highlights the consistent good work of our men and women at airports all over America. "Whether it's document checking, behavior detection, checkpoint or baggage screening, our TSOs are always on the highest state of alert for deadly and dangerous items and illegal activity. Americans should be proud of the work these men and women do on a daily basis."
According to KUAM-AM the cash was found "with an undisclosed amount of crystal methamphetamine and drug items."
Court documents accuse two passengers, Ernesto Verdera and Mark Bartolome "with intent to evade a currency reporting requirement and concealing more than $10,000 in currency and attempt to transport said currency ... to a place outside of the United States." Federal law requires passengers transporting more than $10,000 outside of the United States to declare the money to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Court documents also state, "TSA security officers found the cash wrapped in carbon paper in several different pieces of checked luggage." After notifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement, "officers opened and inspected all of the checked bags and found cash in each suitcase, each bundle had been wrapped and concealed in black poster board lined with carbon paper. In one bag, the money had been sewn into the cloth liner.
