Associated Press - November 3, 2009 1:45 PM ET

SAN DIEGO (AP) - U.S. authorities say they are seizing significantly more illicit cash and guns along the Mexican border.

Three federal agencies that police the border said Tuesday that $40 million in Mexico-bound cash was seized on the southwest border from mid-March through September. That is nearly double the amount from the same period in 2008.

The agencies say officers also seized nearly 600 illegal weapons headed for Mexico, up more than 50 percent from last fiscal year.

The announcement came as top federal immigration officials gathered in San Diego to discuss ways to curb the flow of weapons and drug sale profits into Mexico from the United States.

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