ICE seizes more than $229,000 and arrests a man for bulk cash smuggling
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October 23, 2007

ICE seizes more than $229,000 and arrests a man for bulk cash smuggling
bulk cash ICE seizure in one week bringing the total of monies seized to $773,583

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents arrested a man who attempted to leave the Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, port-of-entry without declaring excess currency in the amount of $229,782.

The U.S. currency was hidden inside a mattress that Julio Santana-Roche, 28, checked-in along with his luggage for a trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

"Bulk cash smuggling is a serious crime," said Roberto Escobar Vargas, acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Puerto Rico. "Those who think that our ports are easy transshipment points for contraband are mistaken. ICE, along with our Department of Homeland Security partners, will continue using our unique authorities to enforce our immigration and customs laws."

Santana-Roche was charged with bulk cash smuggling and failure to declare an amount of money exceeding $10,000.

He was transferred to the Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center where he is awaiting the outcome of his case.

Earlier this week, ICE seized $543,801 from William Manulfi-Feliz, 32, who was traveling to Santo Domingo in a vehicle onboard the Caribbean Express ferry. The inspection of Manulfi -Feliz' vehicle revealed that he had concealed the contraband in different parts of his vehicle. He too was charged with bulk cash smuggling.

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico has accepted both cases for prosecution. The ICE investigations into these cases are ongoing. If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Both Santana-Roche and Perez-Feliz are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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