Email

Print

Tonight there is no strong evidence to suggest that drugs may be related to the U.S. money found inside two small packages at the bottom of a carton box discovered by Customs officers on Monday afternoon. A total of US$32,510 was found in two plastic bags and a package of crest toothpaste. The cash all in small denominations was wrapped in bundles of foil paper. The cash was part of a number of household items, groceries and toiletries shipped from Chicago to Belize. The package was addressed to Kings Park area resident Sydney Ellis.

Ellis reportedly had used the well known Joseph Freight Service that has been shipping barrels of personal items sent from various parts of the United States to families in Belize. On Wednesday, the freight service owner Rolando Montero told 7NEWS that the importer told him that the package was a kind of nest-egg.

Rolando Montero, Freight Service Owner
“After informing him that Customs hold back the barrel because it contained some money, he said he will be coming in to deal with the matter.”

Jacqueline Godwin,
And was he surprised that money was found?

Rolando Montero,
“No, apparently he said he knew he had it in there and it was some savings that he had in the States. That what’s he told me and he will come and deal with it personally.”

Today the police told 7NEWS that they have been working along with Customs and the Financial Intelligence Unit investigating the case but that so far the only offence if it can be established is not declaring the money. As for any possible illicit connection, the authorities told 7NEWS there is no hard evidence to support the speculation. We also understand that the FIU has been interviewing persons in connection with the discovery. According to Customs, Sydney Ellis has yet to pay them a visit and has not yet made any admissions to them including whether or not he is the owner of the package.