By Linda Hall • Published: 24 May 2019 • 15:39
GUARDIA CIVIL officers on a routine callout found more than an overturned camper van.
It came to rest near a precipice on the Puerto de la Mora mountain pass 40 kilometres from Granada but the Lithuanian couple who met them had suffered only minor injuries.
After sending them to hospital for a checkup, the officers approached the van and found a third Lithuanian inside, clearly affected by drink and drugs.
He too was sent to hospital and the van transferred to Guardia Civil headquarters in Granada where a search revealed an attaché case containing €18,000.
Closer inspection revealed a hoard of notes under one of the seats. This could amount to more than €1 million but the Guardia Civil are still checking it.
“We want a bank to take the cash and help us count it, but this is proving difficult owing to security problems and the procedures involved in depositing this amount of money,” said Guardia Civil sources.
The three Lithuanians, none of whom has a police record, insist that the cash is not theirs.
They have not been arrested and unless the investigation uncovers further evidence, they will be fined only for money laundering. The maximum amount of cash that can be transported legally in Spain is €100,000 or €10,000 if taking it across a border into another country, regulations that were introduced to prevent money-laundering or financing terrorism.
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Originally from the UK, Linda is based in Valenca and is a reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering local news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.
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