INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minnesota — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says its officers seized $900,000 in counterfeit money from the International Falls Port of Entry.

The agency says the counterfeit money was found in a commercial rail shipment that originated in China.

Officers found 45 cartons of counterfeit $1 bills with a fake value of $900,000 last month during a customs inspection. The Secret Service was contacted and determined the currency was counterfeit.

“CBP officers strive every day to protect the United States from a variety of threats,” said Jason Schmelz, Pembina Area Port Director. “Those threats don’t always come in the form of terrorists or narcotics, but also in the form of counterfeit currency and other goods that have the potential to harm the economy of the United States. Thanks to the dedication of our officers and our partnership with the Secret Service, we were able to keep this currency from entering into circulation.”

According to the press release from CBP, a rail container was referred for a Customs Exam Station inspection on Dec. 14, 2019. During the examination, CBP discovered 45 cartons of possible counterfeit currency in the form of $1 bills with a total face value of $900,000.

Stopping the flow of illicit goods is a priority trade issue for CBP., according to the release.