TIJUANA – The Mexican army seized nearly $1 million in cash being transported Tuesday in an armored vehicle attempting to travel into the United States at the Otay border crossing, military authorities announced Wednesday.

Gen. Gilberto Landeros, the commander of Baja California’s Second Military Zone, said the $915, 319.50 apparently belonged to an exchange house that did not have the proper documents to show where the cash came from.

Landeros said that two people who were transporting the money were detained. He said it’s the first time the army confiscated such a large sum at the border crossing.

The general stood next to large plastic bags filled with the cash at a press conference at the Morelos army barracks. He was accompanied by the administrator of the border crossing, Luis Torres.

Torres said that the seizure occurred in the export area of the Otay crossing. All vehicles either get a green light to proceed to the United States or a red one, which means they have to be inspected by Mexican customs agents and army soldiers. He said the armored vehicle got a red light.

The vehicle was transporting an additional $800,000 that belonged to various companies which had their export documents in order, Torres said.

The name of the transport company was not disclosed though it was noted that it is part of a money exchange business. The company has ten days to document where the money came from. Otherwise, it will be investigated for money laundering.

The administrator said that it’s the largest sum that has been confiscated in the two years he has led the agency there.

Omar.millan@sandiegored.com