Busted: Police pull over man crossing the border between France and Spain and find almost $600,000 in cash

A 32-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison after crossing the border from Spain into France carrying €500,000 - almost $600,000 - in undeclared cash. French customs officers stopped him at the Capitou toll booth while he was driving from Tarragona to Nice.

During a vehicle inspection, officers discovered the money carefully wrapped in cellophane and hidden under a car seat. The large sum immediately raised suspicions.

Money from a Monet

When questioned, the man claimed the cash came from selling a painting by Claude Monet. One officer quickly challenged his story, noting that the value of a Monet painting far exceeds €500,000.

Traces of drugs found in cash

The situation worsened when tests revealed traces of cocaine on the bundles of money, further implicating the man. According to French newspaper Var-matin, this discovery helped lead to a formal investigation.

Heavy penalties and travel ban

A court in Draguignan convicted the man of money laundering, customs fraud, and transferring undeclared cash. In addition to his prison sentence, he was hit with two customs fines totaling €700,000 (almost $830,000) and banned from entering France for five years.

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