CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) —Federal officials this month have seized thousands of counterfeit bills and coins — including metal tokens resembling vintage U.S. currency — at O'Hare International Airport.
Most of the fake money arriving at the International Mail Facility came from China, said officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The bundles of $100 bills would have been worth almost $150,000 — if the bills weren't counterfeit. They were bound for Georgia before they were seized.
Another $9,700 in counterfeit bills were addressed to a destination in Texas.
On April 21, officers seized 279 parcels containing various denominations in coin currency. Most of the more than 6,000 coins had a buffalo, a bald eagle or native Americans embossed on them. Authorities said these were meant to be sold as collector's items.
"Counterfeiting is a lucrative business which is often used to finance illegal activities such as trafficking in human beings, drugs, and even terrorism," Mike Pfeiffer, Assistant Area Port Director-Chicago, said in a news release. "These are significant seizures made by officers which prevents criminal groups from targeting our citizens, businesses and the security of the United States."
