Man arrested at Oaxaca International Airport with more than US $366K in undeclared cash

Federal agents at the Oaxaca International Airport seized US $365,865 and nearly 6,000 pesos ($326) that a passenger arriving from Dallas, Texas, was carrying in his luggage.

Personnel from the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM), the Navy Ministry, the National Guard and the federal Security Ministry (SSPC) participated in the operation.

➡️ En el Aeropuerto Internacional de Oaxaca, autoridades detuvieron a una persona procedente de Dallas, Estados Unidos, que transportaba sin declarar más de 365 mil dólares y 5 mil 900 pesos mexicanos. https://t.co/cjasoLY581

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The unidentified passenger stated to customs officials that he had nothing to declare, but the detection dog “Cinta” alerted its handler to the man’s baggage.

As a result, customs personnel carried out a physical inspection of the four suitcases and a backpack the traveler was toting, eventually locating several packages with dollar bills and national currency hidden among the contents.

In a press release, ANAM said that given the possible commission of a crime, the National Guard was notified and their agents seized the cash and carried out the count. 

The Navy and the SSPC then arrested the suspect and informed him of his rights, after which he — and the seized money — were placed at the disposal of the Federal Attorney General’s Office, which will determine his legal status.

The newspaper Milenio reported that this was the first significant incident involving undeclared cash at a Mexican airport since members of the National Guard seized 16 million pesos (then worth about US $750,000) and arrested two at the Mexico City International Airport more than six years ago.

On Feb. 24, 2020, National Guard personnel found 14 million pesos in a suitcase and a backpack after an X-ray inspection, while 2 million pesos were confiscated from another passenger’s hand luggage after a routine inspection uncovered envelopes containing hundreds of peso notes of varying denominations wrapped in transparent plastic.

Visitors to Mexico are permitted to enter the country with cash totaling less than US $10,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) without declaring it. However, customs officials must be notified upon arrival if carrying more than that.