U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Combating Bulk Cash Smuggling

$3.2 million in stacks of one-hundred-dollar bills, seized from a transnational crime group.

On September 9 through 18, 2009, a joint operation between Colombian and Mexican law enforcement—based on information developed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—ultimately yielded more than $40 million in illicit drug proceeds hidden within sea containers. This recent success in the fight against Mexican and Colombian drug trafficking organizations underscores the relevance of effective intelligence collection supporting criminal investigation.