Operation ATLAS found undeclared currency

BRUSSELS, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Friday a multinational operation targeting cash smugglers uncovered $24 million in undeclared currency.

The department said in a release Napolitano joined with World Customs Organization Secretary-General Kunio Mikuriya to laud the accomplishments of Operation ATLAS.

The Oct. 26-30 operation, which involved more than 80 countries, turned up the millions in undeclared currency, and resulted in more than $3.5 million being seized.

"In our increasingly networked world, multinational cooperation is critical to combating transnational criminal activity," Napolitano said.

The millions in undeclared funds were uncovered at ports of entry worldwide, preventing the sums from moving along undetected.

Mikuriya said Operation ATLAS "provided the perfect platform" to promote the implementation of international anti-money laundering standards and recommendation. Mikuriya added it also provided the opportunity to enhance cooperation among countries in fighting money laundering and terrorist financing.

Homeland Security said the operation involved the participation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the World Customs Organization, Interpol and Europol.