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Vatican Cardinal’s car seized with cocaine, cannabis. Tomonews on Sep 17, 2014 Two Italian men were arrested for allegedly using a Vatican car to smuggle cocaine and cannabis through France. The car …More
Vatican Cardinal’s car seized with cocaine, cannabis.

Tomonews on Sep 17, 2014 Two Italian men were arrested for allegedly using a Vatican car to smuggle cocaine and cannabis through France.

The car used in the drug trafficking reportedly belongs to 91-year-old Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Maria Mejia. According to the Local, the personal secretary of the Cardial reportedly turned over a Vatican official car to two Italian men last week for an annual checkup.

The two men then drove the car, which carries diplomatic license plates to Spain where they purchased four kg of cocaine and 200g of cannabis before heading back to France, the Local reported.

On the return journey they were stopped by French customs officers at a toll station in Chambéry for a routine check. Officers found the drugs hidden in suitcases and bags.

The two men initially claimed that they were chauffeurs and did not know about the payload.

However, given that neither of the men hold a Vatican passeport, they were arrested and will face charges of drug trafficking, according to the Local.

The Holy See has officially denied any employee or resident was directly involved in the incident.