Drug Enforcement Administration And Puerto Rico Police Department Seized Over One Million In U.S. Currency

SEP 20--SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - On September 30, 2004, Special Agents form the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) seized $1,161,611.00 in drug proceeds, a 2000 Mazda 626 and arrested two illegal aliens from Colombia. PRPD Agents on patrol at the Rooms-To-Go store at Plaza Las Americas Mall observed a man, later identified as Juan Medina-Ramirez, behaving oddly with a large suitcase and shopping bag. The PRPD agents approached Medina-Ramirez who told them that he was a Colombian national. Medina-Ramirez told the agents that he did not had identification. Medina-Ramirez admitted to the PRPD Agents that he was in the country illegally. The Medina-Ramirez consented to a search of the suitcase and shopping bag which the PRPD Agents discovered contained a large amount of U.S. Currency, later counted at $584,020.00.

 

PRPD contacted the DEA Caribbean Division Money Laundering Task Force. During the subsequent interview, Medina-Ramirez led the Task Force Agents to his girlfriend, who was lodged at a local hotel with another illegal Colombian male, later identified as Hemerson Bolanos. A search of the hotel room produced another $37,280.00. During questioning, the woman stated that Medina-Ramirez had additional monies at her nearby apartment. At the apartment, agents discovered numerous suitcases and shopping bags containing another $540,311.00.

Medina-Ramirez and Bolanos, both illegal aliens from Colombia, were turned over to agents from the Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) whom deported them to Colombia. The DEA Caribbean Division Money Laundering Task continues the investigation.