Senior Catholic Cleric arrested in money smuggling case
- 11 years ago
It's a story that reads like a best seller --- a Catholic cleric with Vatican connections is arrested, accused of trying to smuggle just over 25 million dollars worth in cash into Italy from Switzerland.
Italian police video shows 61-year-old Nunzio Scarano's arrest . A secret service agent and a financial broker were also arrested in the plot which police say included plans to fly a private plane filled with euros from Locarno to Rome.
According to reports, the three became nervous and the plane ultimately returned to Rome empty.
Scarano's arrest comes just weeks after he was relieved from his job as a senior Vatican accountant and placed under investigation in another matter.
And just two days earlier, the Vatican under the leadership of Pope Francis said it was setting up an oversight division for its bank.
Italian police video shows 61-year-old Nunzio Scarano's arrest . A secret service agent and a financial broker were also arrested in the plot which police say included plans to fly a private plane filled with euros from Locarno to Rome.
According to reports, the three became nervous and the plane ultimately returned to Rome empty.
Scarano's arrest comes just weeks after he was relieved from his job as a senior Vatican accountant and placed under investigation in another matter.
And just two days earlier, the Vatican under the leadership of Pope Francis said it was setting up an oversight division for its bank.