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Most drug cash makes it across the border
WASHINGTON, Millions of dollars in cash has been seized at the U.S.-Mexico border but officials say that is a tiny share of the billions generated by the drug trade.
The Washington Post estimated 99 percent of the drug trade cash gets past border inspectors into Mexico. The newspaper said that was based on a close look at figures from U.S. and Mexican law enforcement.
Officials say the money that is confiscated amounts to a pinprick for the drug cartels. One Mexican official involved in investigation of financial crime told the Post cartels would have to lose $1 billion before the losses would get their attention.
U.S. agents say they have seized $85 million in cash at the border in the past year.
John Arvanitis, chief of financial operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, called cash "the ultimate challenge."
"It moves so rapidly, so fluidly. It crosses borders. It moves in bulk. It is stored in warehouses. It is moved into business," he said. "They have multiple, multiple options. They can hide a million dollars in a tractor-trailer, or they can carry it across the border in a handbag."
WASHINGTON, Millions of dollars in cash has been seized at the U.S.-Mexico border but officials say that is a tiny share of the billions generated by the drug trade.
The Washington Post estimated 99 percent of the drug trade cash gets past border inspectors into Mexico. The newspaper said that was based on a close look at figures from U.S. and Mexican law enforcement.
Officials say the money that is confiscated amounts to a pinprick for the drug cartels. One Mexican official involved in investigation of financial crime told the Post cartels would have to lose $1 billion before the losses would get their attention.
U.S. agents say they have seized $85 million in cash at the border in the past year.
John Arvanitis, chief of financial operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration, called cash "the ultimate challenge."
"It moves so rapidly, so fluidly. It crosses borders. It moves in bulk. It is stored in warehouses. It is moved into business," he said. "They have multiple, multiple options. They can hide a million dollars in a tractor-trailer, or they can carry it across the border in a handbag."
