$300,000 Counterfeit Cash Bust Reported In Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, WI — Authorities working in Milwaukee say they made a $300,000 counterfeit currency bust after investigating a package from China that was destined for a Milwaukee home.

According to information from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officers at an Express Consignment Operations facility in Milwaukee seized a total of 3,515 100-dollar bills for a total of $351,500 on May 27.

Authorities said the shipment arrived from Shanghai, China and was headed for a home in Milwaukee. Authorities said the suspected package was singled out for examination, and when it was opened, officers found what appeared to be counterfeit currency.

"The currency was made of poor material, was missing the required watermark, had no red and blue embedded fibers, each bill had the same serial number, and there were Chinese letters on back of bills in red," investigators said.

According to the Secret Service, “Foreign Writing” notes have been recorded as successfully passed in every major city in the U.S. and at both small and large retailers.

"The importation of counterfeit currency can pose a threat not only to the United States economy, but our national security as well,” said William Braun, Service Port Director, Milwaukee in a statement. “It is astonishing to see the contraband our officers discover on a daily basis. They continue to uncover violations of U.S. law, day after day. I give the officers credit for helping to maintain the integrity of our system and protecting the citizens of the United States.”