Airline attendants arrested in cash stash

MIAMI — Four flight attendants have been arrested on money laundering charges at Miami International Airport after authorities say they found them carrying tens of thousands of dollars in cash.

Customs and Border Patrols officials said they arrested four American Airlines attendants during an inspection early Monday. Police say they were carrying more than $22,000 in cash after arriving on a flight from Chile. They didn’t specify the exact amount.

An arrest report said a Customs and Border Patrol agent put 40-year-old Carlos Alberto Munoz-Moyano through a routine check after arriving at Miami International Airport.

Although Munoz-Moyano claimed to have $100, an agent found $9,000. Three other flight attendants were then searched.

The report says 55-year-old Miaria Delpilar RomanStrick had $7,300 and 48-year-old Maria Wilson-Ossandon had $6,371. Maria Pasten-Cuzmar also was arrested.

The flight attendants told agents they were smuggling the cash on behalf of someone else.

Officials say they discovered an alleged structuring scheme attempting to violate federal currency reporting requirements. They didn’t elaborate.

The agents were charged with money laundering and turned over to Miami-Dade Police.

American Airlines said in a statement that it’s cooperating with law enforcement and taking the “matter seriously.”

International travelers arriving or departing with more than $10,000 are required to report all currency.

AP/The Press of Atlantic City/CRAIG MATTHEWS Clifford Dirkes and Vander Reeves of Ocean City Intermediate School receive a certificate Wednesday from Army Sgt. Michael Kechula for their invention during the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and math) Tank competition in Atlantic City, N.J.