US currency intercepted

[Jollygoodfellow]

Why would anyone do this when plenty of ways to send money? 

US$13,500 in small bills seized by NAIA Customs

The Bureau of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has intercepted two packages at the Fedex warehouse containing undeclared foreign currencies with a total amount of $13,500 in Fedex.

The packages were both misdeclared as “correspondence/no value”, which arrived on October 23 and 29, 2020, respectively. Both were sent by the same sender, a certain Jefferson from USA, and consigned to the same person from Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.

Upon 100 % physical examination, the first package was found to contain 75 pieces of US$100 Bills. While the other package contained 150 pieces of $20 Bills, 20 pieces of $50 Bills, and 20 pieces of $100 Bills.

NAIA Customs District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan warned the public that under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Manual of Foreign Exchange Transaction, in importing foreign currencies, the importer simply needs to declare the amount intended to be imported using the prescribed Foreign Currency Declaration Form. 

The foreign currencies shall be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Sections 1400 (misdeclaration) and 1113 of R.A. No. 10863 (CMTA) in relation to the R.A. 7653 (New Central Bank Act) and BSP Foreign Exchange Transaction Manual.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/06/us13500-in-small-bills-seized-by-naia-customs/

[Old55]

Curious what the real story is.

[hk blues]

Sounds iffy but could simply be someone who thought sending cash was the easiest option and wasn't aware of the requirement to report cash in excess of 10,000 USD. It's not like it's a huge sum so probably something of nothing.

[OnMyWay]

5 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Why would anyone do this when plenty of ways to send money? 

US$13,500 in small bills seized by NAIA Customs

The Bureau of Customs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has intercepted two packages at the Fedex warehouse containing undeclared foreign currencies with a total amount of $13,500 in Fedex.

The packages were both misdeclared as “correspondence/no value”, which arrived on October 23 and 29, 2020, respectively. Both were sent by the same sender, a certain Jefferson from USA, and consigned to the same person from Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.

Upon 100 % physical examination, the first package was found to contain 75 pieces of US$100 Bills. While the other package contained 150 pieces of $20 Bills, 20 pieces of $50 Bills, and 20 pieces of $100 Bills.

NAIA Customs District Collector Carmelita M. Talusan warned the public that under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Manual of Foreign Exchange Transaction, in importing foreign currencies, the importer simply needs to declare the amount intended to be imported using the prescribed Foreign Currency Declaration Form. 

The foreign currencies shall be subjected to seizure and forfeiture proceedings for violation of Sections 1400 (misdeclaration) and 1113 of R.A. No. 10863 (CMTA) in relation to the R.A. 7653 (New Central Bank Act) and BSP Foreign Exchange Transaction Manual.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/11/06/us13500-in-small-bills-seized-by-naia-customs/

Not unusual at all for people to try and send cash.  Fedex dropped the ball at origin, as they do not accept cash.  As mentioned, these days there are many other ways, but some people may not be that sophisticated or have reasons to try and hide the transaction.

Back in the 80's and 90's, there were not so many ways to get cash overseas, so it was common to find cash hidden in packages while inspecting them.  So common, that a ring of thieves formed on one shift of of our airport team.  About ten guys.  They would hide in containers and "inspect' all the packages, with guards posted.  Packages to Thailand and the Philippines were the main focus.  They probably stole many thousands of cash and valuables.  The only way they were finally caught is that our security guy hired a plant, who joined the gang.  After about 3 months, they had the goods on them, AND THE COMPANY DID NOT PROSECUTE A SINGLE ONE!  They were all fired but they must of figured that kind of publicity was very unwanted.

[Jollygoodfellow]

4 hours ago, hk blues said:

Sounds iffy but could simply be someone who thought sending cash was the easiest option and wasn't aware of the requirement to report cash in excess of 10,000 USD. It's not like it's a huge sum so probably something of nothing.

Maybe but also most people would opt to send bigger bills which would be easier to hide and less of them.

[hk blues]

24 minutes ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

Maybe but also most people would opt to send bigger bills which would be easier to hide and less of them.

I agree - but that would apply whether the situation was innocent or not.  In fact, it makes it more likely it's innocent as surely criminals would be sure to send the largest denominations possible I'd imagine.  

[Gas]

1 hour ago, OnMyWay said:

Not unusual at all for people to try and send cash.  Fedex dropped the ball at origin, as they do not accept cash.  As mentioned, these days there are many other ways, but some people may not be that sophisticated or have reasons to try and hide the transaction.

Back in the 80's and 90's, there were not so many ways to get cash overseas, so it was common to find cash hidden in packages while inspecting them.  So common, that a ring of thieves formed on one shift of of our airport team.  

My 90 year old mum has been sending me and the kids birthday and Christmas money to the Philippines for the last 25 years. For some reason not a single card or package has ever gone missing. Probably the postie cant be bothered to open the letter for a fiver ($7)! 

My wife used to send cash in the 80's when she worked abroad. A few times it went missing and everybody presumed it was the postal service until around 20 years later the neighbour confessed to intercepting the postman and pocketing the $100. 

[OnMyWay]

14 minutes ago, Gas said:

My 90 year old mum has been sending me and the kids birthday and Christmas money to the Philippines for the last 25 years. For some reason not a single card or package has ever gone missing. Probably the postie cant be bothered to open the letter for a fiver ($7)! 

My wife used to send cash in the 80's when she worked abroad. A few times it went missing and everybody presumed it was the postal service until around 20 years later the neighbour confessed to intercepting the postman and pocketing the $100. 

I assume she was using regular post and a small envelope.  Fairly safe, but some mail carriers might snoop for a gift at Christmas time!

Reminds me of a story I have told before.  Off topic, but, oh well.  When I was living in Germany my mom was late 80's / early 90's.  This was 2006 to 2010.  She did not know how to use the internet but would order from those old fashioned paper catalogs that she got in the mail.  She could not get out much, so in her later years, this was how she bought Christmas gifts.

So one Christmas I got called down to the local German post office to pay duties on a package.  Mom had sent a heavy wool sweater to me for Christmas.  It was a famous mail order brand so I was able to look it up, and found that she paid something like $90 + domestic shipping for it.  Then she took it to the post office and paid for USPS Int'l shipping for it.  Germans had heavy duties on clothing back then, and I had to pay something over $100 euros to get it!  That sweater probably cost $300 all in!  

Sweet old mom was just trying get her little boy a nice gift!  It is the thought that counts!  She died at 93 while I was in Germany, but I was able to make it home to see her.  She knew exactly what she was doing.  Almost all the family was able to come see her, and many of us were at her bedside when she said "goodbye, it is my time to go".  A short time later, she just went to sleep.