CBP Trained Mexican Customs Canine Finds $2.4 Million

Mexico City — U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan D. Bersin today congratulated the government of Mexico on the seizure of $2.4 million in illegal cash at the Mexico City airport using a CBP-trained canine. The canine training was provided under the Merida Initiative, a joint US-Mexico effort to combat the threats of transnational narcotics trafficking and organized crime.

Earlier this month, Mexican customs inspectors discovered more than $2.4 million in cash stuffed into spools of telephone cable headed for Venezuela. A trained canine alerted his handler to the suspicious contents of the spools before they departed the airport.

“This seizure is representative of the success of the Merida initiative and our enhanced efforts to share skills and expertise with our Mexican counterparts,” said Bersin.

Under the Merida Initiative, which provides equipment, money, and training to aid in the fight against trans-national illegal activity, the government of Mexico’s canine program has advanced significantly, both in equipment procurement and training.

The canine program has assisted Mexican law enforcement agencies in interdicting narcotics, money, firearms and ammunition at major ports of entry across the country, along the US-Mexico border and during operations. In 2010, CBP trained a group of 47 Mexican Customs canine teams at the Canine Center in El Paso and provided a total of 50 dogs.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.