Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Tuesday, January 27, 2009
(UNDATED) - Officials say the money found last week by three Indiana state highway workers totals $130,120.
The workers found the money in an old tire while they were picking up debris along Interstate 70 in Hancock County last Friday and notified the state police.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the federal government, known as "ICE", has taken control of the money.
A spokeswoman says ice got involved because of the way the money was concealed. "The mode of concealment was inside a tire," said Gail Montenegro, "and we could tell that they were avoiding detection and that is usually a signal that this is illicit proceeds from a drug smuggling organization."
Montenegro says ICE enforces more than 400 immigration and customs statutes in the United States and anytime there are goods being transported -- legally or illegally -- then their agency gets involved.
The Indiana State Police says it considers this an active criminal investigation and no further information will be released until arrests are made.
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