The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has intercepted approximately $700 million in cash from the luggage of departing passengers at Minneapolis airport over the past two years, which is believed to be connected to Somali immigrants and their money couriers, according to reports.

According to a report by Just The News on Tuesday night, authorities stated that the outflow of cash from Minnesota's largest airport began about a decade ago, around the time Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, took office, and has significantly increased in recent years.

While all items were legally declared in accordance with U.S. Customs regulations, the stacks of cash in luggage, sometimes reaching up to $1 million on a single trip, continuously raised suspicion among TSA agents.

The phenomenon of massive funds being smuggled out of the country is currently under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is part of a broader inquiry into a multi-billion dollar fraud scheme centered around the Somali immigrant community in the state.

Dozens of individuals have been charged or convicted of federal crimes in connection with these cases.

According to the BBC, the head of "Feeding our Future," a now-defunct organization that operated in Minnesota, was convicted last March by a federal jury on charges of the largest fraud in history, involving the embezzlement of COVID-19 relief funds.

Officials stated that most of the dollars seized from luggage were transported by a small number of Somali money couriers using a regular route from Minneapolis, via Amsterdam, to Dubai, and sometimes departing from Seattle, Dallas, Columbus, and Atlanta.

Just The News, citing officials, reported that the amount carried by Minneapolis travelers in their luggage is projected to be $342.37 million in 2024 and $349.40 million in 2025, with the national total likely to be much higher.

TSA agents routinely reported the cash movements to Customs and Border Protection and HSI, but there was little interest during the Biden administration. Investigations into its nature and those involved only began after Donald Trump returned to the White House.

A senior official, who requested anonymity, told Just The News, "There wasn't much that could be done because the couriers always had the proper paperwork," but added, "There was concern about the situation, and perhaps legislative changes from Congress might be needed for federal authorities to uncover the truth or prevent it."

Another official stated that federal officials were often accused of racism when inquiring about Somali immigrants with Minnesota state officials.

Federal and state law enforcement officials indicated that the flow of Somali funds had been known among counter-terrorism officials since around 2016-2018, due to concerns that some of the money could be flowing to Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram, affiliates of Al-Qaeda.

However, they explained that during the Biden administration, despite the increase in the amount of money, there was a lack of attention and curiosity, leading to many instances where the money's trail went cold after arriving in Dubai.

Somali remittance couriers are seen as part of a much larger system where legal and illegal immigrants smuggle tens of billions of dollars out of the United States annually through flights or remittance service providers.

According to Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek, over $200 billion is siphoned out of the U.S. overseas annually through remittances, with over $52 billion going to Mexico alone and billions more flowing to China, the Middle East, and African countries.

He also told Just The News that a significant portion of this is linked to illegal immigrants, most of whom crossed the border during the Biden administration.

"At least $4.4 billion in remittances to Mexico has been linked to money laundering for drug cartels through small remittances," he said. "Cartels don't smuggle cash across the border or throw bags at people. They do remittances. To eradicate the cartels, you have to cut off their money pipelines."

Malek is working with state legislators to introduce new requirements for remittance companies to verify that customers are legally in the U.S. before sending money abroad and hopes other states will join this movement.

President Trump repeatedly expressed concern over the Somali immigrant fraud cases in Minnesota, and his administration dispatched hundreds of FBI, HIS, and IRS agents to investigate. Over 90 defendants, mostly of Somali descent, have already been indicted.

Those who advocate for the Somali community, such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, argue that concerns about the multi-billion dollar fraud scheme and money movement have been exaggerated by former President Donald Trump, and that the vast majority of the Somali immigrant community are good Americans.

Governor Walz recently told NBC, referring to Trump, "In terms of demonizing the Somali community, maybe he can be of assistance to us. It is not right to demonize an entire community that is thriving in all professions – in education, in arts, in medicine, in law, in entrepreneurship. They are people who bring diversity and vitality to Minnesota."

Walz also stated, "It doesn't make sense that he made this decision so abruptly. He has his job to do. His mission is to deport criminals and secure the border. But it has to be done with dignity while upholding America's tradition of respecting immigrants as beacons of hope and refugees."

By NNP=Hong Seong-gu, Chief Reporter / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com