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20 Responses to “Mexico Seizes $200,000 in Gold Coins at Airport Security Checkpoint”

1. Tweets that mention Mexico Seizes $200,000 in Gold Coins at Airport Security Checkpoint | Preserving Your Privacy and Wealth -- Topsy.com Says:
   February 9th, 2011 at 5:13 am

   [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Simon Carter, IGSS Intel-Sec Watch, Thomas Flowers, Gold, Airport and others. Airport said: Mexico Seizes $200,000 in Gold Coins at Airport Security Checkpoint: Source: nestmann.sovereignsociety.com — T… http://bit.ly/gOadXH [...]

2. Rosa Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 8:27 am

   My husband & I have lived in the US all of lives & recently relocated to mexico. We sold all of our gold & silver before moving. Our current plan is to buy Mexican gold & Silver coins and store them in a Mexican bank. We feel that this is safer then either buying them at the Mexican mint or having them shipped in. Storing them yourself is always risky, unless you have a large piece of land.

   Crossing borders with precious metals is always hazardous. We feel it is better to purchase them in your new country of residence. Using local banks develops trust and helps reduce safety concerns.

3. rex Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 12:26 pm

   in november i moved 21 1 oz gold coins from uruguay to the usA. filled out the paperwork, was questioned in customs. then moved along without incident. i was very concerned prior to departure. only deal is you must declare. of course then they can track what you have. thought of bringing it in 2 less than 10k batches but then trust no storage facility either.

4. Anon Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 1:46 pm

   Hypothetically, what if my dear Aunt Ginny who lives on the Canadian border wanted to take her old jar of pennies over the border and toss them in a fountain for good luck?

   Verboten!

   This is now also serious business, as a few years back even the zinc replacement in our copper-washed slug pennies was worth less than a penny if melted down for scrap. So the Treasury made it a crime to even take ten dollars and one cent worth of pennies out of the country.

5. Noel Berge Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 2:21 pm

   Following the rules in fine, but I really would like you to help people with understanding the Hawala networks that remain the oldest profession, besides prostitution, that people around the world have used to avoid all attempts by ‘governments’ to control the flow of monies. Anyone seriously interested individual sovereignty, in freedom & liberty, must needs know of this means of free markets in action today. This is real, to me, money and economics 101. Thanks, Noel (Say hi to Peter Sexton for me…)

6. Guillermo Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 3:46 pm

   No, have not moved any metal into Mexico but I would like to someday.
   How much gold or silver can I bring in legally?

7. spatin Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 6:31 pm

   Isn’t there a certain amount that may be transported without having to report it to any govt. ?

   I thought if the value was under $10,000 US it was not required to be reported.

8. Art Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 7:52 pm

   I’ve followed this story and have been able to find a couple of additional details, though it hasn’t been easy because there just isn’t a lot of info out there.

   Apparently, he was just in transit in Mexico City, having flown from the US. Although direct flights exist from the US to Panama, stopping over in Mexico City might be a cheaper option in terms of airfare.

   I also read that he did file the required returns (for transporting over $10,000) both in Mexico and in the US.

   Apparently, the rationale for the detention and for seizing the coins was that he could not provide any proof of ownership! This is absolutely bizarre, but I will keep digging for more info on this.

9. mark edward marchiafava Says:
   February 10th, 2011 at 8:06 pm

   Investigative journalist? What effort was made to actually contact Thomas Martin and get to the real facts? I call people all over the country daily, inquiring about news stories I’ve read that raised more questions than they answer.

10. Robert Sieg Says:
    February 10th, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    I have been concerned about this very thing for a while and am very interested in solutions to this problem. I have heard other expats suggest selling the precious metals right before departing, depositing the cash in your bank, and withdrawing it overseas with an ATM.

    Others have suggested mixing your gold coins with loose change in a plastic bag which you have in your carry-on.

11. Mark From ARK Says:
    February 11th, 2011 at 12:30 am

    Isn’t it wonderful how by working for a “government” you are allowed to steal the property of fellow human beings all in the name of some lousy law that legalizes theft? In my mind, Martin, never committed a crime because NO ONE was damaged by his so called criminal act. If the coins were his and he didn’t steal them, then he should be able to do whatever he wants anywhere on this planet with them. But nooooo…not as long as PSYCHOPATHS are running the show that somehow seem to think that stealing is OK for some of us but not OK for others. It is a shame that Martin didn’t make it to his destination with his property intact. Hopefully the day will come that he will be able to because we as human beings will have figured out that STEALING IS STEALING and that laws aren’t legitimate that allow theft.

12. Dustin T Says:
    February 12th, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    I have moved gold coins into Costa Rica 6-8 at a time only. I place them in a backpack along with US and CR coins. That was it just looks like a pocket full of various countries currency.

    You must act deliberately, now, to protect yourself. The noose is getting tighter and tighter by the week.

13. Joe Says:
    February 14th, 2011 at 1:10 am

    Probably he wanted to move the gold from Mexico to Panama and not let anyone know about it. If he had already declared the income he used to purchase the gold, then it would have made more sense to make the purchase in Panama.

14. Rosella Lampe Says:
    February 15th, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    When someone acquires gold from anywhere , isn’t there an explanation as to the safety levels of moving this , especially internationally , What are the suggestions or caution one must take before purchase and whom can we find for the appropriate answers . However, if one looks at doing anything without knowledge or understanding procedures, he forsakes his own liberties and safety . I would like to get into the process of doing this and I would think that whoemever may be selling this commodity would be giving me all of the process and doing this as a courtesy for the consumer , but I could be seeing this as a level of trust and goodwill for anyone that wants this . The Sovereign Society has always been above board on all of the information they give and being a member over 6 years , I always look to this group for truth and trust them with my life . Beleive me , I am sure the man that is in trouble now would not be there with the advice given to each member as though in family or (ohana) as known in Hawaii. Keep up the wonderful work you have done and I remain always , a member for life . Get back with me re: the commodites I am interested in getting into like silver and some gold.

15. J. Henderson Says:
    February 16th, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    With the exception of Chile and Uruguay everyplace south of the Rio Grande has government employees made up of thieves and technocrooks. Even if you have the correct forms, the will find a technical reason to seize your valuables. The Argentine police seized a Fiat from my employee and tried to seize a Hummer from me.

16. Mark Nestmann Says:
    February 24th, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Tom has now been acquitted of all charges. A court in Mexico City has ordered the government to return his gold coins to him. Because the legal tender value of the coins was less than $10,000, the court determined that Martin had no obligation to declare the shipment.

17. P. Stabler Says:
    February 27th, 2011 at 8:10 pm

    I have moved MANY Gold and Silver Eagles from U.S. airports to Taiwan via Narita in Japan several times over the past 2 years. I also just moved 2 – 500 oz. silver bars from Los Angeles to Narita to Shanghai and then to Taipei.

    The TSA finds then in the carry on x-ray machine and gets all interested, makes me show then, but after I explain I am just moving them to another residence they let me pass. It has been more the curiousity factor than a confiscation threat in my travels.

18. kell22120 Says:
    March 7th, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    Refering to post #16
    Glad to hear that Mark. It was my understanding that it has always been the legal tender or “face” value of the item that had to be less than $10,000. In your opinion is there or was there anything this individual could have done to avoid being detained? ie: any official documents that he could have brought with him?
    Thanks

19. Bob Mansker Says:
    April 20th, 2011 at 2:12 am

    My brother inlaw purchase 7 bars of silver (140 ozs.)…
    He is in Okinawa, Japan…
    We are flying to them in May & he wants us to bring the silver bars with us…
    We are flying Southwest from Denver tp LA & then ANA to Tokyo & then to Okinawa…
    What would be the steps to take?____
    Do I need proof of ownership?____
    What about the weight (8 3/4 pounds) & value…
    Many Thanks in advance..
    Bob

20. nick Says:
    September 13th, 2011 at 3:34 am

    i got pulled over at mexico city airport scanner with 2 monster boxes of american silver eagles @ 500 each or 1000 coins. i gave the cop 1 and was on my way

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