French consulate worker arrested at Israeli border with 69 pounds of gold and $2 million in checks

[deminks]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/07/french-consulate-worker-arrested-at-israeli-border-with-69-pounds-of-gold-and-2-million-in-checks/

Israeli customs officials on Tuesday arrested a French consulate employee carrying nearly $2 million in checks, 152 kg in gold bars — about 69 pounds — and a half ton of tobacco as he tried to cross between Jordan and the West Bank in a diplomatic vehicle, a French source confirmed to FRANCE 24.

More than 150kg of gold, mainly in solid bars, were found in the diplomatic vehicle. Intrigued by the smell of tobacco, Israeli officials asked the man if they could search his car. He refused, explaining that his diplomatic plates were registered at the French consulate in Jerusalem and that he possessed a service passport – an official document issued by the French authorities that indicates he is a member of the consular staff but which does not serve as a diplomatic passport.

(snip)

The ministry’s advice was to allow the vehicle to be searched to avoid giving the impression that there was a coverup.

The driver eventually complied, revealing 152 kg of gold, mostly in bars; 500 kg of tobacco; hundreds of new cell phones; and nearly $2 million in checks.

The Israeli police arrested the man, who was in charge of the consulate’s garage, questioned him and quickly deported him to France.

(end snip)

a little tidbit I am going to file away for future reference.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff. n/t

[NuclearDem]

11. [phone] for a Slim Pickens reference

[msanthrope]

2. Sounds like a good weekend. nt

[formercia]

3. What, no thousands of Condoms in various colors and sizes?

Dildos, blow-up dolls and other toys for a fun Weekend.

[Igel]

4. 152 kg =? 69 lbs

Innumerate reporter.

More like 335 lbs, if it was 152 kg.

If it was 152 lbs, then you'd get 69 kg. The reporter can't even use an conversion app without getting it wrong. Hate to see him (her) get a job as a cashier. Or anything dealing with numbers.

Like I tell kids, you need to have some clue what the numbers mean. The calculator will give you an answer, it's up to you to figure out if it's gibberish or not.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. They've corrected it to 334 pounds, so the 69kg is the right number (nt)

[Tx4obama]

5. ''... Intrigued by the smell of tobacco, ... " Huh?

[Iggo]

7. A thousand pounds of un-smoked tobacco would have an intriguing smell, I'm sure.

[Tx4obama]

8. Oops. I missed the '' half ton of tobacco'' in the first sentence of the OP. Thanks :)

[Iggo]

9. Yeah, I missed that on the first pass as well.

[KoKo]

6. Sounds like something Max Keiser was talking about today with

Gold Over the Borders.

Definitely file it away...we might be seeing something about that in a year or two or sooner.

It sure sounds "interesting" in many ways.