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$40K seized from family of 3
Customs inspectors seized about $40,000 from a family of three who had arrived at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport from Hong Kong last Aug. 8.
The Office of the Attorney General seeks to forfeit the money.
Under Commonwealth law, it is unlawful for any person to bring in an undeclared amount totaling more than $10,000.
Assistant attorney general Hessel E. Yntema IV stated in the complaint before the Superior Court that undeclared money is considered contraband.
Yntema said that Chun Hung Lui did not declare the amount.
Lui, his wife, and his daughter arrived at the Saipan airport from Hong Kong via Hong Kong Express flight UO42 on Aug. 8.
A Customs inspector found the cash in an inspection of Lui’s baggage.
Speaking through a translator, Lui allegedly told a Customs officer that he had $8,000 and his wife had $8,200.
Yntema said about $39,975 was found.
The currency was in Hong Kong dollars (600 HKD), Chinese yuan (5,520), and U.S. dollars ($39,374).
Yntema said Lui allegedly admitted that he intentionally hid the money and chose not to report it to avoid possible taxes.
