K-9 Spike is capable of detecting cocaine, heroin, meth, MDMA, and cash that has come into contact with a substantial quantity of these substances at Miami International Airport.
While traveling to the baggage claim area earlier this month, the dog began sniffing bags and notified a detective about a black suitcase that was being delivered from Atlanta.
Two Spanish individuals were taken into custody as a result of the inquiry. On a Delta Airlines flight, Francisco Piriz-Perera had arrived. To pick him up, Fernando Heredia Mañas showed up in a car.
Inside the suitcase, a vacuum-sealed package containing cash was observed by a detective. Investigators from the South Florida Financial Crimes Strike Force stated on April 16 that they were following them.
With a judge’s approval, detectives began searching their cell phones on April 17. On April 22, a digital evidence forensics examiner joined the inquiry.
They were both questioned by detectives as well. Piriz-Perera, 43, allegedly stated in the arrest report that he travels across the United States to pick up cash and receives a commission of roughly 1.5% on each transaction.
During the investigation, a traffic stop was made. After a dog examined a vehicle, authorities claimed to have discovered money in quick count bundles, which Heredia Mañas, 43, claimed belonged to poker players.
Heredia Mañas informed officers that “he picks up money” and “sells the money” for Tether, or USDT, a cryptocurrency that is backed by the US dollar, according to the arrest report.
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According to reports, Heredia Mañas charges for the conversion and “reiterated repeatedly that he picks up money or instructs [Piriz-Perera] to pick up money from individuals in various cities.”
Detectives said that they arrested them on Monday and seized about $185k, the most of which was in $20 bills.
They were both booked by Miami-Dade correctional officers at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where they stayed on Tuesday evening.
Heredia Mañas and Piriz-Perera were charged with money laundering/transport monetary, conspiracy to transfer money without authorization, and money laundering illicit gains.
Heredia Mañas had to prove to the court that the $600,000 he was obliged to post as bond did not come from the proceeds of crimes. Piriz-Perera’s bond was still pending.
Circuit Judge Zachary N. James was scheduled to oversee Heredia Mañas’s case, while Circuit Judge Carlos Humberto Gamez of Miami-Dade County was scheduled to oversee Piriz-Perera’s.
Detectives urged anyone with information to contact Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 regarding this or any other case.
