Latest Border Blunder? US Bars Loonies Entry to Country

US Customs officials may have prevented thousands of loonies traveling with RVers from entering the US this week.

No, the G-men aren't worried about an influx of mental patients, the loonies in question were Canadian dollars, commonly dubbed "loonies" for the image of the bird that appears on the coin. In actuality, two Canadian couples, each in a motorhome, attempted to make the crossing into the US en route to Mexico. For whatever reason, US officials inquired about how much cash the RVers were carrying, and reports indicate the failed to 'fess up to carrying more than $10,000 in currency.

While it's not illegal to carry that amount of money in or out of the US, federal law requires it be declared. In this case, more than $10,000 in Canadian, US, and Mexican funds were found stashed throughout the motorhomes. According to the Port Huron Times Herald, the RVers new they were obligated to report the cash, yet did not. They were allowed to continue on with a convoy of other RVers, after the cash was put under arrest. For "humanitarian reasons," the border guards allowed an undisclosed amount of cash to continue on with the travelers. As for the rest, the owners will be able to reclaim it--after they jump through hoops, including proving where the money came from.