Instead of a legitimate load, this large Ford truck was carrying something a bit more illegal.
Moving Weight
Criminals are known to be a resourceful bunch, continuously looking for new ways to smuggle their illegal wares across the border each and every day. We've seen some clever methods of transport over the years as those in the trade have moved drugs and cash via planes, automobiles, and even submarines. But most recently, it was a 1989 Ford F-800 that was used to move a massive amount of both undeclared currency, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and picked up by PowerNation TV.
Photos: Rogers Realty & Auctions
Big Money
According to CBP, officers found and seized over $1 million in undeclared currency from the big Ford truck, which was hidden inside two boxes labeled "dining table" and sniffed out by a K-9 that alerted officers to the irregularity. As CBP notes, there is no limit to how much cash people want to carry along with them, but anything over $10,000 must be reported or will otherwise be seized.
Photos: Rogers Realty & Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this 1989 F-800 right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Law's the Law
"The transportation of currency or monetary instruments, regardless of the amount is legal," said Roberto Vaquero, Assistant Director of Field Operations for Border Security in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "However, when entering or departing the U.S. in possession of monetary instruments of more than $10,000, you must file a report with us. The concealment of currency can be indicative that the currency is the product of illicit activities."
Photos: Rogers Realty & Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this 1989 F-800 right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Startling Discovery
Clearly, in this case, there was something fishy going on. Officers found a total of $1,000,100 in the "table" boxes, along with an additional $348,940 located in a sink that was onboard the truck. Needless to say, the folks that were driving/riding in the big Ford when it tried to cross the border from the Dominican Republic are probably sitting in jail at the moment.
Photos: Rogers Realty & Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this 1989 F-800 right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
Not the Last
This sort of thing happens on a regular basis, amazingly enough, generally stemming from drug dealers trying to move large amounts of cash from point A to point B. But this is the first time we've seen an F-800 used for such illicit activity, though given its generous cargo space, we imagine that it won't be the last.
Photos: Rogers Realty & Auctions
>>Join the conversation about this 1989 F-800 right here in the Ford-Trucks forum.
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