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ICE and Colombian National Police seize more than $11.2 million at largest cargo port in Colombia
September 11, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents along with Colombian customs inspectors and Colombian National Police (CNP) officers seized approximately $11.2 million Wednesday at the port of Buenaventura, Colombia. The seizure was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the CNP and ICE Attaché Bogota.
The U.S. currency was hidden in two shipping containers, each containing 20 big bags filled with ammonium sulfate. Sixteen of the 40 bags contained $700,000 in $20 dollar bill denominations. The containers departed from the port of Manzanillo, Mexico destined to the Pacific coast port of Buenaventura, Colombia.
According to Colombian customs inspectors, this seizure is the most cash ever seized by police at a port in Colombia.
“It is ICE’s mission to work with our overseas law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations involved in contraband and bulk cash smuggling, which includes tracking and seizing the illegal proceeds derived from their illicit activities,” said John Morton, the Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE. “This seizure of $11.2 million has surely put a dent in the illegal activities of the individuals involved.”
The ICE investigation is ongoing by ICE’s Attaché office in Bogota, Colombia.