An Albanian was apprehended with €48,000 in small denominations in an Audi, his car rental project updated

Here is a beautiful story that could make any action movie director green with envy, except that instead of a fearless hero, we have an Albanian in trouble, an Audi Q5, and €48,890 in small denominations. If someday someone could explain to me why modern criminals always carry small bills, it would spare me from existential questions about people's life choices.

An evening reminiscent of a spy movie

It was a mundane Wednesday in Ax-les-Thermes, where ever-curious customs officers decided to inspect an Audi Q5 registered in Albania. “Look, another unfortunate soul heading from Paris to Barcelona,” an indifferent observer might have said. But wait a minute, why is he only handing over an envelope with €300? Because he’s hiding exactly a little treasure under the floorboard!

The revelation of the hides

The customs officers, although less snobby than James Bond, discovered a cleverly disguised metal plate behind the front left wheel arch. You guessed it, our friend had much more than he was trying to let on. Instead of playing the neighborhood gossip by saying how much his unpredictable cousin might enjoy this small change, he eventually confessed to holding €12,000 hidden there. In total, the customs officers found €48,890 in small denominations. Can we talk about bad faith? Yes, I believe so.

Outlandish setups

In good spirits, the Albanian, nicknamed Thierry for the sake of the case, claimed he wanted to open a car rental agency. Excluding the lack of documents, how could one take such a declaration seriously? This sum, according to him, represents his savings for buying cars. Who can believe that after spending a holiday visiting relatives in France, one could have that much cash in the glove compartment, except for someone in a Rocco Siffredi movie?

The tragic journey of cars

The cars on the Albanian market would seem to be luxury models, but as he stated, those coming from Dubai or Asia wouldn’t include this flashy Audi Q5. On the contrary, the judge could not help but connect all these dots, including communications with a certain "Pedro Pedro" who speaks of opening cars—a mix of puzzles and cables like in Austin Powers, without the thrill of course.

Consequences and the gaze of a disillusioned prosecutor

The farce continues in the courtroom, where prosecutors look at Thierry as if he just requested a reopening of the wine route to a friend’s Peugeot. Yes, he was found guilty, but not in the way one might imagine. Twelve months of probation, accumulating customs fines, all for the fantasy of a car rental agency. A case that could have concluded with Renauts, Volkswagens, or even Fords displayed before delighted customers, but exiting through a much more rundown door!

Reactions from the legal world

The defense attorney had the audacity to look the magistrate in the eye, arguing that the fact that the customs dog signaled a scent proves nothing. A beautiful statement that would deserve an Oscar for its audacity! In essence, her defense seemed as solid as an electric car without a battery.

In summary, what remains of this automotive drama? A man with poorly placed entrepreneurial dreams, an Audi Q5 full of stories, and, hopefully, a next project that’s a bit less... let’s say, risky. Who will go try to sell him a Citroën one day, while reading the small bills in the rearview mirror? This little fable simply reminds us that sometimes it's better to have both feet on the road and check the mileage before launching a rental agency.

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