Crime & Safety
U.S. Pilot Arrested For Alleged Cash Smuggling At Newark Airport
The pilot held a Global Entry Card, which normally allows for "expedited clearance," authorities said.
Newark, NJ – A United States commercial airline pilot who holds a U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry Card was arrested yesterday morning after allegedly attempting to smuggle $195,736 in undeclared currency into the country, authorities stated.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (NJ), Anthony Warner, 55, of Dallas, Texas, was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport by special agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations after arriving as a passenger on a flight from Mumbai, India.
Prosecutors stated that Warner was approved for the CBP’s Global Entry Card program, which “allows expedited clearance upon arrival in the United States for pre-approved travelers who have been determined to be low-risk.”
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to prosecutors, pre-approval must be completed before enrollment in the program, and the process includes a background check and an in-person interview. At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingers on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and complete a Customs verification. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.
Prosecutors allege that when Warner arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport, the Global Entry computer system was not functioning, so he presented his customs declaration to a CBP officer.
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The CBP’s screening determined that he was carrying a laptop-style bag that contained $195,736 in United States currency wrapped in newspaper. He also had 10 rings, four sets of earrings, and other assorted jewelry of undetermined value in his possession, authorities stated.
Warner’s possession of currency was contrary to the statements in his customs declaration and verbal statements that he made to CBP, prosecutors stated.
Authorities charged Warner with one count of bulk cash smuggling and one count of making false statements.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
