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   - Photo via Ministry of Security - |
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Published on Wednesday,
September 29, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff A couple of Mexican citizens, a man surnamed Hernández-Araujo, 30, and a woman surnamed Sánchez-Vega, 25, were detained at the Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela Province on suspicion of hiding money taped to their bodies. According to the report of the Drug Control Police, the case began when the couple entered the country on a flight from Mexico and did not declare the excess money. When the couple was at the immigration post, officers detected that they both carried bands taped to their bodies. Following the process on the suspicion of money or drug trafficking, they were taken to a more meticulous search that resulted in the finding of several packets of money taped to their bodies. According to the police, the man was hiding $51,220 and the woman had $58,780. In total, the money found, and not reported to the authorities, was $110,000. The money was seized as part of the evidence in the case, while the suspects were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they must face an interrogation by agents of the Judicial Investigation Organization, and then, wait for a judge to order pre-trial measures against them for the charge of money laundering. A short video of the money inspection was released by the police and can be seen on the A.M. Costa Rica YouTube channel. According to Aeris, the company in charge of managing the airport, when travelers entering or exiting the country, all citizens or tourists must declare all cash or securities they are carrying if the amount is equal to or greater than $10,000 or the equivalent in another currency. Authorities recommend for visitors to review the rules for entering or leaving the country on the Aeris website.  Detecting suspected money laundering or drug traffickers is a priority for officers at the airport. Recently, airport officers arrested a Ukrainian man as a cocaine trafficking suspect.  In July, four Mexican nationals were arrested by the airport police on suspicion of having concealed $120,000 in cash in their luggage. The judicial agents call on the population to report any suspicion of money laundering or drug trafficking to the confidential line 800-8000-645. Their bilingual agents can answer calls in English or Spanish. -------------------- What is the reason for travelers to not report over $10,000? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com Professional's
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