Hungarian authorities have recovered nearly $20 million (€17.7 million) in hidden cash during a corruption investigation into a former minister under ex-Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The country's newly established National Asset Recovery and Protection Office said Friday that investigators discovered the money during searches linked to former National Development Minister Miklos Sesztak.
The discovery is part of a sweeping anti-corruption campaign launched by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who defeated Orban in April's parliamentary election.
The money was discovered during two days of searches in the capital, Budapest, and three Hungarian counties.
Investigators found large quantities of cash buried in forests, concealed in agricultural buildings, warehouses and residential properties, as well as stored in an expensive safe at a secluded location.
The recovered money included 5.07 billion Hungarian forints (€13.3 million, $15.3 million), €2.66 million (€2.9 million) and $1.26 million (€1.08 million).
According to Finance Minister Andras Karman, 12 employees of the Hungarian State Treasury spent eight hours counting the banknotes using five counting machines.
The agency also released a video showing investigators kneeling beside large piles of bundled cash and digging into the ground in what appeared to be a forest at night.
Authorities said the seized money had been deposited into an account belonging to the Hungarian state treasury.
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