Pubdate: Thu, 15 Jan 2004 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2004 Johnson Newspaper Corp. Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Associated Press Note: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone# CUSTOMS SEIZURES WASHINGTON - Federal authorities seized millions of dollars last year that people were trying to take out of the United States and millions of pounds of illegal drugs smugglers were trying to bring in, the nation's border chief said Wensday. Robert Bonner, chief of the Bureau of Customs and Border protection, said his agency seized $51.7 million in currency in the 2003 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. "A lot of this was outbound - that people were trying to take out of the United States," Bonner said, in an interview with the Associated Press. " I would say a significant percentage of the currency seizure was proceeds of illegal activity, mainly drug trafficking." Bonner said that some of the currency was headed for the Middle East, but he didn't know whether that cash was going to be used to bankroll terrorist activities. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin