$286,000 in cartel cash found in McDonald’s bag during traffic stop

$286K in Cartel Cash Discovered in McDonald's Bag During Traffic Stop

A traffic stop in Ricardo, Texas, resulted in the seizure of more than $286,000 in cash that authorities believe was headed to criminal organizations in Mexico.

Special Agent M. Galvan carried out the stop on March 4, 2026, at around 1:00 PM. While speaking with the vehicle’s sole driver, Galvan noticed several signs that made him suspect the driver was involved in criminal activity.

K-9 Agent Bax was then deployed and gave a positive alert on the vehicle.

During the follow-up search, agents opened a McDonald’s bag and found clear vacuum-sealed bags filled with U.S. currency. Authorities seized a total of $286,202. While counting the money, agents also found a counterfeit $50 bill mixed among the bundles.

Investigators later determined that the cash was intended for criminal organizations in Mexico.

The seizure occurred one week after the Task Force’s previous major currency case. Officials said the Task Force will continue working to disrupt the flow of illegal proceeds along South Texas highways.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *