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Federal Agents Seize $1M Cash From Private Jet

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. (WJZ) -- The cargo was cash -- $1 million worth -- and now it's in the hands of federal agents.

Alex DeMetrick reports the money was found on a private jet at Martin State Airport.

A jet was just passing through Martin State Airport when federal agents seized it and an unknown number of suspects. On board was $1 million in cash. According to a Homeland Security statement, "We have inflicted a significant hit on the criminal organizations. We will continue to target their illicit cash."

The cash is believed to be from the illicit smuggling of guns. Just this past week, a massive smash and grab hit a Texas gun store. Those guns are destined for sale to other criminals who pay cash.

"You've got another criminal element that needs firearms to commit their crimes sometimes associated with the drug trade," said one investigator.

And profits from the drug trade add up. Tens of thousands of dollars were seized in just one drug raid in Baltimore raid--money that needs to move to suppliers and smugglers using cars, trucks, boats and planes.

FAA records list the plane as being owned by Jet Zee LLC, a company out of Newport Beach, California.

The 1987 Beechjet can also be found on aircraftdealers.com. The asking price is just under half a million dollars. Where it cannot be found is on flighttracker.com, which would reveal where it was coming from and where it was headed to before it was seized in Maryland.

Smuggling carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and the seizure of all money.

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