Flight Attendant Tells Customs He Has $100. It Was $9K

4 American Airlines flight attendants accused of smuggling $22K in cash into Miami
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 23, 2019 10:46 AM CDT
4 Accused of Smuggling $22K on Flight Weren't Passengers
American Airlines planes are shown parked at their gates at Miami International Airport on April 24, 2019.   (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Four American Airlines flight attendants have been arrested on money laundering charges after police say they flew into Miami with more than $22,000 in cash. Carlos Alberto Munoz-Moyano was the first to be checked by customs at Miami International Airport after departing the flight from Santiago, Chile, on Monday. The 40-year-old claimed to have $100 but was actually carrying $9,000, CNN reports, citing a police report. Agents then checked other attendants from the same flight, finding $7,300 on Miaria Delpilar Roman-Strick, 55, and $6,371 on Maria Isabel Wilson-Ossandon, 48, for a grand total of $22,671, the report said.

Authorities say a fourth flight attendant, Maria Beatriz Pasten-Cuzmar, conspired with her colleagues to deliver the cash to a "known person" in the US, in exchange for 1% of the US currency they carried, reports the Miami Herald. NBC Miami's Carlos Suarez notes US law requires travelers to declare cash over $10,000—which none of the flight attendants had—"so it is still unclear just why they lied" to customs agents. He adds federal charges are expected to follow. In a statement to the Herald, American Airlines says "we take this matter seriously and are cooperating with law enforcement throughout their investigation." (More flight attendants stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X