DETROIT — A big casino winner who tried to avoid declaring winnings as he passed through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel ended up a big loser.
WDIV-TV says U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized nearly $20,000 from two men about 11 a.m. Monday.
Officials said they were carrying $9,400 and $9,500 respectively, amounts purposely structured to avoid a $10,000 threshold requiring declaration.
The unidentified men acknowledged awareness of the requirement.
Both men said they took $4,000 to the casino and were returning with their winnings, but one later said he lost his money gambling and was carrying a portion of the driver’s winnings.
The driver admitted he won $40,000, deposited $20,000 at the casino and split the rest with his passenger to avoid disclosure.