Immigration News

Canadian man sentenced in record $2.43 million cash smuggling

DETROIT - A Canadian man was sentenced yesterday for smuggling a record $2.43 million cash into the United States, the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Sasa Nikolic, 35, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and permanently barred from re-entering the United States by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Hood. The $2.43 million was forfeited in March 2005 and deposited into the U.S. Treasury Forfeiture Account.

Nikolic was apprehended in August 2004 after driving a tractor-trailer into the Fort Street Cargo Facility, where CBP officers stopped him for questioning and a routine inspection. During the inspection, CBP officers and ICE special agents discovered cash totaling $2.43 million - $2 million in the trailer and $430,000 in the truck's cab.

“This is the largest currency seizure ever made by CBP officers at the Port of Detroit's commercial cargo facility,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Michigan Director of Field Operations Gurdit Dhillon. “It shows that our multi-layered border enforcement strategy, using prescreening techniques and secondary inspectional tools, is working to stop any type of contraband - including illegal funds - from entering into the United States.”

“ICE routinely works with law enforcement agencies and other organizations to identify security vulnerabilities in our transportation system and shut them down,” said ICE Detroit Special Agent-in-Charge Brian M. Moskowitz. “The investigation into the origins and destination of the cash involved in this seizure will continue.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Marion, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Michigan, prosecuted the case.

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	Did You Know?
	Grants of TPS are initially made for periods of 6 to 18 months Temporary Protected Status (TPS) - Establishes a legislative basis for allowing a group of persons temporary refuge in the United States. Under a provision of the Immigration Act of 1990, the Attorney General may designate nationals of a foreign state to be eligible for TPS with a finding that conditions in that country pose a danger to personal safety due to ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster. Grants of TPS are initially made for periods of 6 to 18 months and may be extended depending on the situation. Removal proceedings are suspended against aliens while they are in Temporary Protected Status.