Hungary says it will expel detained Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers
Hungarian authorities have said they plan to expel seven Ukrainian cash-in-transit workers who were earlier detained by officers of Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration.
Source: Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs on his X account, as cited by European Pravda
Details: Kovacs said that Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration established the identities of seven Ukrainian citizens detained in connection with transporting large amounts of cash and gold through Hungary.
Quote: "Authorities established that the operation was led by a former general of the Security Service of Ukraine, while his deputy was a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force, assisted by individuals with military experience. Based on these findings, all seven individuals will be expelled from Hungary."
Background:
- On Friday 6 March, the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary reported the seizure of the cash-in-transit vehicles and the detention of bank employees from Ukraine, saying the operation was carried out in cooperation with TEK "on suspicion of money laundering".
- It was claimed that among those detained was a former general of a Ukrainian security service who was overseeing a shipment consisting of US$40 million, €35 million and 9 kilograms of gold.
- The National Bank of Ukraine was the first to report that Ukrainian cash-in-transit staff and a large amount of currency had been seized. The employees were from Oschadbank and were transporting cash from Austria to Ukraine.
- Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha described these actions as "terrorism and hostage-taking", and the ministry advised Ukrainian citizens to refrain from travelling to Hungary.
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