Anti-drug agents discovered the greenbacks after performing
an X-ray scan on Sunday at the port of Cabello in the central
state of Carabobo, state news agency AVN said in a statement on
Tuesday.
"Preliminary information shows that the money discovered is at
least 3 million dollars in small denominations," AVN said,
adding that the state prosecutor's office will charge the man
"responsible" for the truck, Arquimedes Jose Rondon.
It did not provide information about the potential owner of the
dollars or say why the money was brought in.
Strict currency controls implemented more than a decade ago have
fomented a lucrative black market that has become a magnet for
corruption.
The tumble in oil prices and Venezuelans' hunger for U.S.
dollars amid an economic crisis have exacerbated the imbalances
recently, with the black market rate shooting up to around 175
bolivars per U.S. dollar, according to one widely used website.
That is more than 27 times the strongest of three official
exchange rates, which is 6.3 per dollar.
(Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; editing by Matthew Lewis)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
|
|