A 40-year-old Colombian man residing in Aruba has been fined 20,000 florins after failing to declare more than $18,000 at Customs. The ruling, delivered by the Aruban court, also ordered that his license plate be returned. The case highlights ongoing enforcement efforts at Aruba’s borders regarding currency declaration requirements.
What Happened at Customs
On November 9, 2024, the man, identified in court documents as P.C., was stopped at Aruban Customs when authorities discovered over $18,000 in undeclared currency. A female passenger traveling with P.C. was found carrying hidden money concealed in her clothing and inside a tin container. The woman told investigators that P.C. had asked her to transport the funds to Colombia on his behalf.
The female passenger claimed that $700 of the seized money belonged to her personally, while the remainder was owned by P.C. The discovery triggered a full investigation and subsequent court proceedings that culminated in this week’s ruling.
Court Proceedings and Defense
During the hearing, P.C. explained to the judge that he had chosen not to declare the money because he was undocumented in Aruba at the time of the incident and feared drawing attention to himself. He stated that the funds were earned through legitimate means, including working on cars in Aruba and selling his vehicle and other personal belongings in Colombia.
P.C. also told the court that he currently earns approximately $2,000 per month from cryptocurrency trading and has since obtained legal registration in Aruba, now working for an established company on the island.
Ruling: Acquitted of Money Laundering, Guilty of Customs Violation
The Prosecutor had sought to keep the confiscated funds and impose a two-month conditional prison sentence. However, P.C.’s defense attorney, mr. Rosenstand, successfully argued that the mere presence of undeclared cash did not constitute proof of criminal origins, leading the judge to acquit P.C. of the more serious money laundering charges.
While clearing him of money laundering, the judge found P.C. guilty of the customs declaration violation and imposed a fine of 20,000 Aruban florins. The court also ordered that P.C.’s vehicle license plate be returned to him. The final disposition of the confiscated $18,000 was not fully detailed in the court’s ruling.
Broader Context
Aruban law requires all travelers entering or leaving the island to declare currency amounts exceeding certain thresholds. Failure to comply can result in confiscation of funds, fines, and potential criminal charges. This case underscores the distinction Aruban courts make between procedural customs violations and more serious financial crimes such as money laundering, where prosecutors must demonstrate that funds originated from illegal activity.
