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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hearing today in border arrest

A Canadian woman is due in U.S. District Court in Spokane today after being arrested at the United States border at Oroville, Wash., last week with nearly $150,000 in unreported cash. Marina Cantarero-Cruz, of Oliver, B.C., was driving a 2004 Acura on July 14 about 2:10 p.m. when border agents discovered a secret compartment. Cantarero-Cruz, 48, and two passengers had said they were traveling to the Rancho Chico restaurant in Tonasket and had denied transporting more than $10,000, according to court documents. A police dog detected the cash in the compartment, documents allege. Agents seized $132,980 in U.S. cash and $12,200 in Canadian. An additional $2,100 in U.S. currency and $870 in Canadian was falling out of Cantarero-Cruz’s underwear, documents allege. Her bail hearing for a cash smuggling charge is set for 3 p.m. today. She remains in Spokane County Jail.