NASSAU- Two American tourists have been fined for attempting to smuggle close to $80,000 out of the country.
Travis Vaujin, 28, and Joshua Casabona, 26, failed to declare the money that Vaujin won while gambling at the Baha Mar casino.
Vaujin stuffed some of the money into his carry-on bag. He gave the rest to Casabona because he didn’t have any more space in his bag, the court heard.
Both men lied on their U.S. Customs declarations on January 16 when they said that they were travelling with less than $10,000.
But police seized $79,343 between them following a search.
The men pleaded guilty to failing to declare and making at false declaration at their arraignment before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.
Vaujin told police that he came to The Bahamas with $20,000 and he won $50,000 while gambling.
He said he didn’t want to go through the hassle of filling out the declaration forms.
Magistrate McKinney confiscated the money to the Crown.
Additionally, he fined Vaujin $1,000 or three months in prison. Casabona was fined $500 or one month in prison.
