Fourteen passengers from a tour bus bound for Mexico are facing federal charges after being arrested at an international bridge under cash smuggling charges.

All were charged with “for knowingly conspiring to evade currency transaction reporting requirements of $3.1 million in U.S. currency concealed in luggage” said United States Attorney José Angel Moreno.

Seven passengers were United States cities and the other seven were Mexican nationals. 

All were arrested Sunday, September 26th at the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge.

Authorities reported that an intensive inspection of the tour bus resulted in the discovery of 17 pieces of luggage - each containing hundreds of thousands of dollars in U.S. currency. In all 17 pieces of luggage, the cash was found wrapped in deflated air mattresses.

“This seizure of $3.1 million in undeclared currency and 14 arrests, the largest currency seizure by CBP in Fiscal Year 2010, is a magnificent achievement and serves as a validation of our enhanced outbound enforcement effort, which includes not only CBP officers and agents but also ICE-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents,” said Commissioner Alan Bersin in a written statement. ‪‪

The fourteen passengers arrested and charged are:‪

U.S. Citizens:

Bianca Tapia-Pineda                    
Jobanni Hernandez                      
Gabriella Hernandez                     
Alejandro Camacho                      
Elizabeth Cornejo                        
Leticia Urieta-Aguirre                 
Jonathan Nathan Gaona 

         
Mexican Citizens:

Rene Fernando Espinoza-Borjas  
Maria Urieta                           
Marcial Santana-Aleman        
Pedro Sanchez Aviles               
Jacinto Magadan Cuevas         
Margarita Patricia Jones              
Irma Echeverria-Vega           

All fourteen individuals made their initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Peter E. Ormsby in McAllen yesterday and have been ordered temporarily detained pending detention hearings scheduled for Oct. 1, 2010.  ‪ ‪

A charge of conspiracy to smuggle bulk currency out of the United States carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release.  ‪‪