Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2000
Source: Corpus Christi Caller-Times (TX)
Copyright: 2000 Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Address: P.O. Box 9136, Corpus Christi, TX 78469-9136
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Author: Jeremy Schwartz, Caller-Times

KLEBERG SEIZES $273,271 CASH HIDDEN IN CAR

Florida Couple Arrested In Southbound Vehicle, Held On Bond

The Kleberg County Sheriffs Department seized $273,271 that was hidden behind the rear speakers of a 1996 Mercury Cougar.

A Florida couple was charged with money laundering. They are being held in the Kleberg County Jail on $75,000 bond each.

The seizure was made after a traffic stop on the southbound lane of U.S. Highway 77 in Riviera. While most drug seizures are made on northbound lanes, officials said, South Texas law enforcement agencies find most hidden currency in vehicles traveling southbound.

"The money was probably either going to go for the purchase of more narcotics or to people who are taking the drugs up," said Capt. Rick Torres. At about 6:30 p.m., Deputy Richard Kirkpatrick stopped the couple for a traffic violation and obtained consent to search their car. Officials would not say what the traffic violation was.

A sheriffs department drug dog named Max searched the car, alerting deputies to the cars rear side panels. Deputies found 16 bundles of cash and arrested Jose L. Reynoso, 34, and Nancy Diaz, 29, both of North Miami Beach, Fla.

Torres said the money would be recycled into the departments drug seizure fund, where it would be used for law-enforcement activity.

"It could purchase a lot of equipment and that's the main thing we'll use it for," Torres said. "As far as we're concerned, this is the largest cash seizure in the last two years."
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