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Customs seizes more than $4M in counterfeit cash

Posted at 10:29 AM, Feb 17, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-17 18:15:40-05

Authorities say they seized more than $4.6 million in counterfeit U.S. currency at Detroit Metropolitan Airport from a couple traveling into the country.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says that its officers on Friday examined bags from a married Vietnamese couple after they arrived at the airport in Romulus on a flight from Seoul Korea.

Officers found 93 bundles of counterfeit $100 bills and 32 bundles of Vietnamese currency that the agency says were intended to be burned as part of an offering to the deceased.

Federal officials say it's illegal to import counterfeit currency, regardless of the intended purpose.

“Attempting to import any amount of counterfeit currency, regardless of the intended purpose, can have serious implications for arriving travelers.” stated Devin Chamberlain, Port Director, in a press release. “Quality law enforcement work and solid attention to detail resulted in this seizure, and I am proud of the officers involved.”

Sources tell 7 Action News the couple will not face charges.