CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it seized fake money at O’Hare in the past few days that would be worth nearly $700,000 if it were real.
The 24 shipments of counterfeit currency came from China and were heading to various cities throughout the U.S., including cities in Illinois and Indiana.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, the fake money was in the form of $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 bills. One shipment that was heading to Bronx, New York contained 976 $100 bills, while another package heading to Louisville contained 101 $20 bills and 103 $50 bills.
All of the shipments were manifested as bar prop, the agency said. But, even though these counterfeits were going to be used as prop money, it is a violation of federal law to reproduce currency. Violators can be arrested.
The counterfeit currency was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Secret Service for further investigation.
The agency said officers process 57 million packages a year at Chicago’s International Mail Facility at O'Hare International Airport. Nightly, CBP officers usually seize 40 to 50 packages containing unapproved medications, narcotics, counterfeit jewelry, electronics, and many other illegitimate goods.
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