OK, I understand the guy with the visa business paying a premium.
But I am trying to figure out how either guy's "on the street" (assume you mean similar to the guys that will come to your car in Sosua as you drive around town?) or the money changers (assume you mean the little facilities all over the place, many with no signage?) make money by paying more than the "official rate". It obviously does or they wouldn't have a viable business plan, but I just am not seeing the mechanism.....want to understand what's really going on. Anyone know?
They have business people, some that are legitimate, who will pay a premium rate for Dollars/Euros, who for one reason or the other do not wish to deal with "official rates."
U.S. agents arrest Dominicans, seize cash, weapon on boat near Puerto Rico
PRESS RELEASE
AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG)
federal law enforcement authorities along seized $190,000, a 5.56mm semi-automatic weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition a from inside a single engine yola type vessel, north west of Puerto Rico Wednesday night.
At midnight, Wednesday a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected a vessel approximately 60 nautical miles northwest of Puerto Rico. The vessel had no visible registration, flag or markings.
CBP personnel coordinated with watch-standers at Coast Guard Sector San Juan to intercept the vessel at sea. An HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft crew from Coast Guard Air Station Miami and Coast Guard Cutter Cushing were diverted to interdict the vessel.
Cutter Cushing boarding team members located approximately $190,000, the weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition.
The five individuals on board the vessel claimed to be citizens of the Dominican Republic.
Cushing crewmembers team took custody of the five suspects aboard the vessel, currency, and weapon and transported them to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations at Arecibo for further investigation Thursday at the Mayaguez Sea Port, Puerto Rico.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2