Greek Judo Champion Arrested With €1.15 Million in Cash Hidden in His Car

Greek authorities are investigating a major financial case involving a well-known judo champion. Police discovered €1.15 million in cash – approximately $1.23 million – hidden in the trunk of his vehicle. The athlete's name has not been released.

The discovery was made during a routine police stop on the Athens-Corinth national highway, near Kiato. The athlete was arrested and taken to the Attica General Police Directorate (GADA) for questioning before being released as the investigation into the origin of the funds continues. The incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, April 22. During a search of the vehicle, officers found the cash hidden in plastic supermarket bags.

Following his arrest, the athlete was interrogated throughout the night by officers from the Organized Crime Division. According to sources, the athlete remained calm and provided his own account of the funds' origins. "I collected this money from various businessmen in Attica and was transporting it to another businessman in the Peloponnese," he claimed. That statement has become a central focus of the ongoing police investigation.

Authorities are currently exploring three primary scenarios. The first: whether the funds are linked to criminal activity. The second: whether the case involves money laundering. The third: whether it relates to large-scale tax evasion. The athlete has a clean criminal record and has not previously been involved in any illicit activity. Nevertheless, he is now required to provide formal documentation to prove the legal origin of the substantial sum.

The athlete has been released on the condition that he remain available to authorities. He is expected to be summoned again to present supporting evidence. Simultaneously, the investigation has widened to identify the businessman in the Peloponnese whom the athlete named as the intended recipient. Authorities are working to determine whether this was a legitimate business transaction or whether it is connected to a larger illegal operation.

For now, a judo champion is not in jail. But he is under scrutiny. And €1.15 million in plastic supermarket bags does not exactly scream "legitimate business transaction." The Olympic sport of judo involves throwing opponents to the ground. Greek prosecutors are now trying to figure out whether this particular champion was throwing money around – or just throwing the police a story. The investigation continues.

Written by Freya Stensrud