A 19-year-old man from Vitrolles, Bouches-du-Rhône, has been handed a six-month suspended prison sentence by a Monaco court after authorities discovered more than €11,000 in undeclared cash hidden throughout a luxury vehicle he drove into the Principality. The sentencing followed an investigation prompted by suspicious behavior at a border checkpoint. The case was initially reported by Monaco-Matin.
The young man, employed on a fixed-term contract and reportedly earning €1,700 a month, had entered Monaco on May 16 behind the wheel of a German-registered Audi S3 valued at approximately €65,000. The vehicle was neither registered to him nor accompanied by documentation linking him to its ownership. During an inspection near the Jardin Exotique, the driver initially declared only €5,000 in cash to police.
A detailed search of the car revealed a total of €11,115 in cash, spread throughout various compartments, including the glovebox and trunk, where some bundles were wrapped in cellophane. Officers also found €3,500 worth of prepaid cards and a prohibited Category C weapon—specifically, a knife—raising further legal concerns.
The defendant was unable to provide any verifiable documentation or records explaining the origin of the funds. Despite offering several conflicting explanations—including savings, gifts from family, gambling winnings, and temporary access to the vehicle for a short trip—none could be substantiated with evidence. The inconsistencies, paired with the method of concealment, led authorities to suspect an attempt to circumvent financial reporting requirements and to potentially launder money.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors emphasized the broader implications of financial concealment and underlined the Principality’s firm stance on money laundering prevention. The Public Prosecutor’s Office argued that the lack of clarity and supporting documentation, combined with the suspicious transport of large sums of cash in a luxury vehicle, pointed toward an intentional effort to obscure the funds’ origin.
Despite the defense arguing that the young man lacked criminal intent and was merely displaying immature behavior influenced by social media culture and the glamour associated with Monaco, the court ultimately sided with the prosecution. The judge imposed a six-month suspended sentence, a €5,000 fine, a five-year ban from Monaco, and full confiscation of the discovered cash and prepaid cards.
The verdict reflects Monaco’s stringent approach to financial irregularities and serves as a cautionary example of the consequences individuals may face when entering the Principality with undeclared assets.
