Antic coins and articles from precious metals to the value of several million lei were found in two minibuses at the Cahul-Oancea customs post. This is the largest quantity of contraband goods seized in the last 15 years, IPN reports.

Press officer of the Customs Service Alina Sargu told a news conference that one minibus transported parcels from Turkey to Moldova. The customs post’s employees found over 700 antic coins inside it.

According to specialists, the collection consists of Greek and Roman silver and bronze coins dating from the 4th century BC. The value of a coin is US$50 to US$1,500. Besides coins, the contraband includes parts of two Greek marble statues dating from the 1sth century BC.

In the second case, the customs officers discovered about 40 small packets with articles from precious metals in a minibus that also came from Turkey.

Criminal cases over significant contraband were started on the two cases. There were arrested four Moldovan nationals – the minibus drivers and their companions.