Friday, July 10, 2009

British man arrested at Spanish airport for trying to give away £45,000

A dishevelled British man was arrested in a Spanish airport for attempting to give away £45,000 he was carrying in cash and travellers cheques. The man, who was drunk, was taken into custody after his generosity attracted the attention of officials.

Spain's Interior Ministry said people at Son Sant Joan Airport in Palma de Mallorca first alerted police because the man "looked like a tramp" and "had a disagreeable smell".

Police intervened after determining that the inebriated was attempting to give away thousands of euros without realising what he was doing.

"Having arrived at the airport terminal, he began handing out cash while laughing," a ministry statement said.

The ministry said the man - identified as James, from Manchester, England - was taken in custody, where police learned that he had recently inherited the money.

The Foreign Office was informed but consular officials did not have to intervene to coax the 59 year-old man to put away his wallet and fly home.

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