Customs agents came across a real gold treasure in Haut-Rhin on Thursday. No pirate with a wooden leg in this story but a motorist coming from Switzerland at the wheel of a beautiful car registered in England. On board, two people but above all four gold bars and 852 gold coins with an estimated value of 604,000 euros.
Agents from the Saint-Louis highway surveillance brigade intercepted the vehicle which had just entered the territory for a check on the A35. The driver said he was on his way to Britain. But what aroused the customs officers’ suspicions was the motorist’s hesitation when asked by customs officers about the transport of valuables. The latter admitted to carrying cash and even presented a brief bank statement indicating cash, bonds, precious metals and raw materials, but which did not specify the quantities transported.
Ingots, gold coins
As no capital declaration could be presented, customs officers then inspected the luggage on board the vehicle. Bingo! Several batches of envelopes containing four gold ingots of one kilo each, and 852 gold coins bearing the effigy of George V, Edward VII, Victoria and Elizabeth II were thus discovered.
A nice haul that customs officers seized for non-execution of the obligation to declare cash with a value equal to or greater than 10,000 euros when entering the European Union. A large sum following the seizure for the year 2022 of 80.4 million euros seized by customs for failure to comply with the reporting obligation and money laundering, an increase of 35% in two years…