US Customs officers intercept over $136k in counterfeit currency from China

(Worthy News) – US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Chicago’s International Mail Facility last week intercepted two parcels from China that contained different denominations of counterfeit currency totaling over $136,000, the Department of Homeland Security reports on its website.

Sent by the same shipper in China, the parcels arrived in the US on January 28, 2021: one parcel was directed to Auburn Hills, Michigan, and the other to Independence, Missouri.

According to a CBP report, “the first shipment contained 957 counterfeit $100 dollar bills and 44 counterfeit $50 dollar bills totaling $97,900.” The second shipment contained 384 counterfeit $100 dollar bills. “In total, $136,300 of counterfeit currency was seized under Counterfeit U.S. Currency, Coins or Government Securities,” the CBP said.

“Even though these counterfeits were going to be used as prop money, it is a violation of federal law to reproduce currency. Violators can be arrested,” the CBP report said.

“Our CBP officers encounter a wide variety of criminal activity,” Shane Campbell, Area Port Director-Chicago said in a statement. “In this case, our officers were able to take $136,000 of fake currency out of circulation where it could have done harm to other businesses and individuals financially.” The currency has been sent to the Homeland Security Investigations and US Secret Service for investigation.

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