In December 2024, Spanish authorities arrested a 35-year-old man from Marbella after discovering €280,000 in cash hidden under the rear seat of his van during a routine traffic stop on the A-43 highway near Villarrobledo, Albacete. The detection was made possible by ‘Pompa’, a Belgian Malinois police dog trained to locate currency and missing persons. Cadena SER+1elconfidencial.com+1
The cash, consisting of 5,600 €50 notes, was meticulously organized and concealed beneath the upholstery. According to the Guardia Civil, the amount exceeded the legal limit of €100,000 that can be transported within Spain without prior declaration, as stipulated by Law 10/2010 on the Prevention of Money Laundering. Consequently, the funds were confiscated, and an investigation was initiated to determine their origin.elconfidencial.comCadena SER+1elconfidencial.com+1
The detained individual claimed the money was intended for a business transaction, but he failed to provide documentation or a credible explanation for its source. Authorities are now exploring potential links to money laundering activities, particularly those associated with drug trafficking networks operating in southern Spain.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of large cash seizures in Spain. In July 2024, police in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria intercepted a man carrying €275,400 in a bag without proper documentation. Similarly, in February 2025, a Serbian national was detained at a customs checkpoint for transporting nearly €300,000 in a supermarket bag and a shoebox, leading to a €149,000 fine and the confiscation of the funds. elDiario.esinfobae
These cases underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Spanish law enforcement in combating illicit financial activities. The Guardia Civil continues to emphasize the importance of declaring large sums of cash to prevent money laundering and other related crimes.elconfidencial.com+1Cadena SER+1
As the investigation into the €280,000 seizure progresses, authorities are working to trace the funds’ origin and determine whether they are connected to broader criminal enterprises. The outcome of this case may provide further insights into the methods used by illicit networks to move large amounts of cash within Spain.