US agents seize record $27 million in cash on ship docked in Puerto Rico

Federal authorities found $27 million in undeclared cash aboard a ship bound for the US Virgin Islands — the largest seizure ever in the region — after a sniffer dog found the cash, federal officials announced.

US Customs and Border Patrol officers were conducting a search of the Norma H II docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, when their K-9 alerted them to pallets containing home moving boxes en route to St. Thomas, authorities said.

After officers opened one of the boxes, they found greenbacks wrapped in vacuum-sealed packages,  according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

Further inspection of the pallets revealed a total of 34 cargo boxes containing the stacks of undeclared cash.

W. Stephen Muldrow, US attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, said the territory’s geographical location has made it an ideal hub to import narcotics into the US mainland and to smuggle drug money.

“To eradicate this threat, we will continue to aggressively attack their drug smuggling and money laundering operations — depriving them of their illegal merchandise, their profits, and a safe haven,” said Muldrow, who did not elaborate on how the massive seizure was linked to narcotics trafficking operations.

Drug Enforcement Administration Agent A.J. Collazo said that most likely more than one criminal organization was involved and now “seriously bleeding” from the financial loss.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by CBP, the DEA Caribbean Field Division, HSI San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.