Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

[don]

German arrested with half a ton gold at Athens airport

A German national was to face a prosecutor on Friday after being intercepted at Athens International Airport while trying to smuggle nearly half a ton of gold and silver tablets out of the country.

The suspect was arrested shortly before boarding a Lufthansa flight for Germany, according to authorities.

An inspection by customs officials reportedly revealed that his luggage contained 7,185 kilograms of gold and 293,435 euros in cash. The same suspect is believed to have attempted to smuggle out another bag containing 425 kilograms of silver.

Airport staff briefed the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) which sent out inspectors on Friday to check a business address in Athens.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w...04/2013_493377

[FrankL]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

German arrested with half a ton gold at Athens airport

A German national was to face a prosecutor on Friday after being intercepted at Athens International Airport while trying to smuggle nearly half a ton of gold and silver tablets out of the country.

The suspect was arrested shortly before boarding a Lufthansa flight for Germany, according to authorities.

An inspection by customs officials reportedly revealed that his luggage contained 7,185 kilograms of gold and 293,435 euros in cash. The same suspect is believed to have attempted to smuggle out another bag containing 425 kilograms of silver.

Airport staff briefed the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) which sent out inspectors on Friday to check a business address in Athens.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w...04/2013_493377

half a ton of gold and silver, 7,185 Kg, 425 Kg of Silver... am I becoming number dyslectic?

That's over seven and a half (metric) tons of gold and silver if I'm not mistaken. Which Lufthansa plane allows you to take 7 and a half metric tons of luggage with you?

The other explanation is that they use the comma as decimals delimiter, but then the 293,435 euros in cash no longer make sense (there are no half cent coins).

[don]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

I wondered that too - and how could you possibly hope to slip that in.

[Fiat Currency]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

half a ton of gold and silver, 7,185 Kg, 425 Kg of Silver... am I becoming number dyslectic?

That's over seven and a half (metric) tons of gold and silver if I'm not mistaken. Which Lufthansa plane allows you to take 7 and a half metric tons of luggage with you?

Something doesn't add up. To put that in perspective, it is the equivalent weight of about 7 automobiles.

Are we supposed to believe that he just rolled that up to the counter ?

[pianodoctor]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

Slightly less ridiculous report here: http://www.enetenglish.gr/?i=news.en.economy&id=629
Police on Thursday said a 31-year-old German national was arrested at the Athens International Airport who was trying to smuggle nearly 7kg of small gold bars out of the country. He had also tried to send 425kg of small silver bars by freight with the Lufthansa airline.
The man was arrested shortly before boarding a flight bound for Germany, authorities said. A thorough check by customs officials discovered he was carrying a bag containing the gold bars and the sum of €293,435 euros, which he was unable to account for.
EnetEnglish

[jk]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

in europe a comma is used in the way americans use a decimal point. instead of commas to separate 3 numeral groups within large numbers, europeans use spaces.

[FrankL]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

in europe a comma is used in the way americans use a decimal point. instead of commas to separate 3 numeral groups within large numbers, europeans use spaces.

....which leads to the problem of the half euro cent.

The author of the original article must have been a binational of both Europe and the US!

btw. even if you're smuggling cash, this sounds like a rather rash or even desperate attempt. Probably much safer to load up a truck which otherwise is carrying regular goods to Germany.

[FrankL]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

remove, double post

[astonas]

Re: Heavy Luggage, Sir - Anything to Declare?

....which leads to the problem of the half euro cent.

The author of the original article must have been a binational of both Europe and the US!

I'd guess it was just an editor "fixing" one part of the copy before it went to press.

btw. even if you're smuggling cash, this sounds like a rather rash or even desperate attempt. Probably much safer to load up a truck which otherwise is carrying regular goods to Germany.

Yeah, I believe the traditional method in the pre-WWII era for amounts in the <10kg range was a nice backpacking trip in the Alps, using trains to move across unchallenging stretches, and when desperate, hiking to move across challenging ones. Or perhaps a long international cruise. Air travel seems about as unwise a path as one could imagine.

I wonder what this guy heard to make him desperate to leave so very quickly.