Busted at airport for too much cash

If you’ve ever travelled internationally by air you know that on the customs form you fill out upon entry into most countries, including Belize, there’s a box you must check if you’re bringing in more than ten thousand U.S. dollars in cash. Well today one passenger discovered that the need to declare your liquid assets also applies when you’re leaving. Thirty-two year old Murat Kalender was stopped by airport security personnel around eleven thirty Thursday morning after the x-ray machine at the departure lounge indicated a wad of cash in his carry-on. Kalender was escorted to the customs office where they counted out sixteen thousand and ninety four dollars in United States currency. His next stop was the police station where he was arrested and charged with an offence that, until now, we never knew existed: that is–and we are not making this up–“Attempting to leave Belize with more than the prescribed amount without first having reported the matter to the supervisory authority.” We attempted to check this out with the D.P.P.’s office, but they are yet to return our call.