EDMONTON – A man who travelled through the Edmonton International Airport (EIA) is out a lot of cash after trying to hide it from customs.
On June 1, while Canada Border Services Agency officers were carrying out routine checks on outbound passengers, an officer spoke with one man who said he had $20,000. He was pulled aside for a more in-depth examination to confirm his declaration.
Agency officers uncovered $67,840 in various currencies hidden in the passenger’s pockets and carry-on suitcase. Most of the cash was Canadian $100 and $50 bills, however there were also Euros, American and Lebanese currency.
Travellers are allowed to carry as much cash or monetary goods as they want, but anything valued in excess of $10,000 Canadian must be declared. The man didn’t do that. As a result, the hidden cash was seized as suspected proceeds of crime. It’s the largest seizure of its kind by border security at EIA.
The CBSA continues to investigate.
The largest CBSA seizure ever in Alberta happened in April of 2009, when over half a million dollars in suspected criminal cash was found in a horse trailer at the Coutts border crossing.
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