CBP finds nearly $100K in cash at Hidalgo port of entry

Federal agents on Tuesday arrested a 42-year-old man after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found nearly $100,000 in undeclared currency as he tried to leave the county.

Gilberto Reyes-Gonzalez, a Mexican citizen, is charged with bulk cash smuggling.

CBP encountered Reyes at the Hidalgo port of entry and referred him for a secondary inspection, which is where officers discovered seven bundles of cash wrapped in plastic and concealed inside a natural void in the rear passenger side quarter panel of the maroon Chevrolet SUV he was driving, according to a criminal complaint.

“The currency inside the bundles was counted and totaled $96,800,” the complaint stated.

Reyes, who told Homeland Security Investigations special agents that he was aware of currency reporting requirements, picked up the cash in San Antonio and was instructed to drop off the loaded vehicle with an unidentified woman in Reynosa, according to the complaint.

That document said Reyes has been smuggling bulk currency since June 2022 and had completed eight trips.

Carlos Rodriguez, port director for the Hidalgo, Pharr, Anzalduas port of entry, said in a news release that bulk currency is often associated with transnational criminal organizations.

“CBP officers conduct outbound enforcement operations to protect against unreported exportations of bulk U.S. currency, which can often be proceeds from alleged illicit activity, or currency that funds transnational criminal organizations,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

Reyes made a first appearance on Wednesday in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis, who ordered him temporarily held without bond.

He will likely remain in custody pending the resolution of his case.

On Thursday, his attorney filed a waiver of his detention hearing, which had been scheduled for Friday afternoon.