MIAMI – At the Miami International Airport, K-9 Spike can detect cocaine, heroin, meth, MDMA — and cash that has been around a significant amount of the drugs.
Earlier this month, the canine was sniffing luggage on the way to the baggage claim area and alerted a detective to a black suitcase arriving from Atlanta.
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The investigation resulted in the arrests of two suspects from Spain. Francisco Piriz-Perera had arrived on a Delta Airlines flight. Fernando Heredia Mañas arrived in a car to pick him up.
A detective reported seeing a vacuum-sealed pouch with cash inside the luggage. South Florida Financial Crimes Strike Force investigators reported following them on April 16.
Detectives started to search their cell phones with a judge’s authorization on April 17 and a digital evidence forensics examiner joined the investigation on April 22.
Detectives also questioned both of them. According to the arrest report, Piriz-Perera, 43, said he travels around the U.S. to pick up cash and makes about a 1.5% commission per transaction.
There was a traffic stop during the probe. A canine searched a car and detectives reported finding cash packed in quick count bundles that Heredia Mañas, 43, said belonged to poker players.
According to the arrest report, Heredia Mañas told detectives that “he picks up money” and “sells the money” for Tether, or USDT, a cryptocurrency pegged to the dollar.
Heredia Mañas allegedly “reiterated repeatedly that he picks up money or instructs [Piriz-Perera] to pick up money from individuals in various cities” and charges for the conversion.
Detectives reported seizing over $185,000 mostly in $20 bills and arresting them on Monday.
Miami-Dade correctional officers booked both of them at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center where they both remained on Tuesday night.
Heredia Mañas and Piriz-Perera were each facing charges of unauthorized money transmitter, unauthorized money transmitter conspiracy, money laundering/transport monetary, and money laundering unlawful proceeds.
Heredia Mañas’s bond was $600,000 and he was required to show the court that it did not derive from the profits of crimes. Piriz-Perera’s bond had yet to be set.
Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Carlos Humberto Gamez was set to preside over Piriz-Perera’s case, and Circuit Judge Zachary N. James was set to preside over Heredia Mañas’s case.
Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.