Several courier packages were seized this week by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Rafael Hernandez International Airport in Puerto Rico containing 11 cast-gold bars arriving from Curacao.
In mid-December 2012, CBP Officers at the Aguadilla inspection facility came upon six unusually heavy shipments arriving from Curacao, which rendered a more intrusive inspection. The inspection revealed several gold cast bars.
“This seizure proves once more that CBP officers at our ports of entry are very vigilant and will continue working with our partners to identify contraband arriving from abroad,” stated Marcelino Borges, director of CBP field operations for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “We will not tolerate the introduction of contraband into our jurisdiction whether it is in the form of narcotics or any other type.”
The total weight of the gold bars is approximately 76.5 pounds (34.70 kilos) with an estimated value of $1.7 million.
