Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Latest local news, weather, high school sports in the Rio Grande Valley

Woman attempts to smuggle over $85,000 under clothes
Posted: 01.06.2013 at 12:26 PM
Action 4 News Staff

Members of the Action 4 News team worked together to bring you this report.

0
Photo taken by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Slideshow
Photo:

A woman and her husband were arrested on Thursday after they were caught trying to cross $87,965 into Mexico.

Mario Zuniga and his wife Olga Zuniga were crossing the Hidalgo Port of Entry when officers sent their car to a secondary inspection.

While at the second inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers noticed a rectangular shaped object underneath her clothes.

After a pat down inspection, officers found the cash concealed under her clothing.

Zuniga was asked by Homeland Security Investigators why she was hiding the money.

She told officials that a man, who referred to himself as “El Gordo” went up to her at a store the day before and asked her to smuggle the money.

“El Gordo” told her that once she crossed, there would be a red taxi waiting for her on the other side of the border.

Zuniga was told that she would be smuggling $20,000 and that when she returned to the U.S. she was going to be paid at Whataburger.

Zuniga told officials that she knew what she was doing was wrong. 

Popular Stories
Thumbnail
Man burns wife with iron during heated argument
Brianna Vela  |  Yesterday at 8:04 PM  |  12 comments
Thumbnail
Alamo man listed as fugitive for sexually abusing child
Action 4 News Staff  |  Today at 10:25 AM  |  9 comments
Thumbnail
Teen battles synthetic marijuana side effects
Joey Horta  |  Yesterday at 6:22 PM  |  12 comments
Follow Valley Central
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Border Bridge Wait Times
Estimated times to cross into the United States from Mexico.
Action 4 Listens
Send a news tip or share a concern with Action 4 News
RGV Diabetes Page
News, information and resources about the diabetes epidemic in the Rio Grande Valley.
Hurricane Page
Action 4 News has placed all our Hurricane Season videos, maps, stories and resources on one page.
ADVERTISEMENT