TWO Slovaks are being held in custody for what is believed to be one of the first cases of euro-smuggling outside the zone in which the new European currency is being used.
Hungarian police said that two men were arrested trying to cross into Slovakia from Hungary with 1.16 million euros. The cash, split into 100 and 500 euro notes, was hidden in various parts of the men's car.
The arrests will raise fears within the euro zone that EU accession states, like Slovakia and Hungary, will soon become breeding grounds for euro forgeries and smuggling.
Lax border controls and frequent smuggling of other goods, such as cigarettes, into the EU has been criticized by European Commission leaders. Slovakia in particular is seen as a problem country for smuggling of contraband, refugees and the traffic in women.
