Millions of cash uncovered in worldwide immigration sting

Around 2.5 million Euros worth of illicit money has been uncovered in a worldwide crackdown across over 80 countries.

The operation turned up the cash in a variety of stings on checked and carry-on baggage as numerous passengers were found to be attempting to smuggle illicit cash across international borders.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement team claimed the seizures are likely all to be linked to organised crime. Assistant Secretary John Morton said that there is a strong commitment to smuggle cash and that new ways were being discovered all the time, adding ironically that his team was expecting cash to be hidden in iPods soon. Morton claimed that the problem was ongoing in every city in every country around the world, as evidenced by the scope of the operation.

In the past week cash has been found hidden inside clothing at one Eastern European airport, with a rice-cooker stuffed with silver coins found at another in central Europe.

Around half a million in $USD was seized in Turkey, presumably from the drug trade, leading Secretary General for the World Customs Organization Kunio Mikuriya to say he was surprised at the size of the haul, questioning if the find may provide information on the regions drug routes.

All officials involved have lauded the operation as being a positive sign that a multi-national operation can be successful in addressing law enforcement issues. At least four arrests were made in the operation.