Mucho Dinero

[Bucky]

Mexican police arrest Japanese man carrying nearly $200,000

Mexico City, May 2, 2010 (EFE via COMTEX) -- A 62-year-old Japanese national who was carrying $174,645 in cash and $2,500 in travelers checks was arrested by Federal Police officers in southeastern Mexico, the Public Safety Secretariat said.

Ito Noboru was stopped for a routine inspection while driving on the stretch of highway between Campeche and Uman.

The man made some contradictory statements to officers, who searched his vehicle and found the cash.

Noboru was also carrying 64,000 pesos (about $5,000) and 784 Argentine pesos, the secretariat said.

The man told officers he was coming from the Caribbean resort city of Cancun, where he planned to move, and that the money belonged to him.

Noboru, however, could not prove that the money was his and he was handed over to federal prosecutors, who will conduct an investigation, the Public Safety Secretariat said.

[nottu]

[Coligny]

Bienvenidos

What's this new trend aboot being arrested if you have more than cheezburger money with you ?

3rd article I see this week (2 previous were linked on slashdot relative to US travellers).

It's cute and all to fear aboot drug trafficking and sh1t... but It really feels more and more like a problem where authorities only tool is a hammer and their huge desire to see every problem shapped like nails...

[Mulboyne]

He got it from a foreigner in Roppongi.

[bolt_krank]

He got it from a foreigner in Roppongi.

Ah... you beat me to it.

[Yokohammer]

Aren't there generally laws about carrying cash across national borders?

You're supposed to declare anything above $10,000 for the US, I think. Same for Australia. I assume that's the issue in this case as well.

[Christoff]

Aren't there generally laws about carrying cash across national borders?

You're supposed to declare anything above $10,000 for the US, I think. Same for Australia. I assume that's the issue in this case as well.

Ten grand is the global norm, some countries dont have limits like caman islands but the problem is getting it out of where ever you are going. It is pretty easy to get money out of the US because there is no exit inspection.

[sublight]

Aren't there generally laws about carrying cash across national borders?

Usually, but there have been many cases of cops in the US stopping people with large amounts of cash and simply declaring, "it's suspicious, and now it's ours."

Even if you're never found guilty of a crime, your money is gone and the local fuzz have their beer and donut fund covered for the next two years.

[Choeki]

Simple enough. He just has to prove that it's actually his money that he earned legally and paid taxes on in the country he earned it in. If it is his life savings from Japan, there should be a monumental paper trail documenting it considering the bureaucratic dinosaur that Japanese banks tend to be.

However, considering it is the Mexican government (and their typical reputation) I get the feeling that the grand total may be depleted by a significant amount due to "shrinkage" from the evidence room.

[Christoff]

Usually, but there have been many cases of cops in the US stopping people with large amounts of cash and simply declaring, "it's suspicious, and now it's ours."

Even if you're never found guilty of a crime, your money is gone and the local fuzz have their beer and donut fund covered for the next two years.

Only if you cant prove it is yours, ie where it came form.

[Blah Pete]

If he would have given $200 cash to the Federales this would not even have been a news story. (friends have been been let off for less with DIU/Drug possession, etc).
The Federales are nothing but shakedown artists and in the pocket of the drug cartels.

[kagemusha]

What's this new trend aboot being arrested if you have more than cheezburger money with you ?

It is not a new thing but since the authorities are trying to make it harder for terror oriented groups to move money around, they demand more explanations about large sums of cash. The Iranians and Pakistanis have a worldwide net of 'bankers' who transfer cash from hand to hand, no questions asked and not a dime missing.
Saying that, in this case we are probably talking about an ex-civil servant who dedicated his life to ensure a great future for Japan and was well compensated for his great job.

[nottu]

[Mike Oxlong]

Reminds me of when my brother was working in Eastern Europe, and was pulled over for speeding or some such infraction...he had two hundred dollars tucked into his passport that he forgot to take out before handing it over to the cop on request. The cop saw the cash while flipping through the passport, took it for a bribe, and happily sent him on his way, no further questions asked.