{
  "id": 19972122,
  "title": "Hungary seizes millions in cash found buried in forests amid corruption investigation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/hungary-seizes-millions-in-cash-found-buried-in-forests-amid",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T11:31:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/14/hungary-seizes-millions-in-cash-found-buried-in-forests-amid-corruption-investigation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hungarian authorities seized over €17.5 million in cash hidden in forests and various locations across the country, according to a criminal investigation involving former Minister of National Development Miklós Seszták. On November 12 and 13, the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) conducted coordinated searches in Budapest and counties of Pest, Békés, and Nógrád. The operation recovered 5,071,632,000 forints, which equates to €2,658,350 and $1,257,100.\n\nInvestigators found the cash in multiple spots, including buried in forests, concealed in agricultural buildings and warehouses, stored in residential properties, and kept in a high-value safe in a remote location. On Friday, NVVH staff deposited the cash into the Hungarian State Treasury.\n\nAccording to the investigation, Seszták and the CEO of Hungarian National Asset Management (MNV) allegedly received over 11 billion forints in illicit payments from 2015 to 2018, during their association with a national bus operator, Volánbusz. Previously, a search in October at Seszták's home in Kisvárda uncovered safes commonly used by financial service providers and pawnshops. On September 30, the Buda Central District Court ordered Seszták's detention at the NVVH's request, with the court extending his detention until January 30, citing the seriousness of the case and the risk of him fleeing or hiding.",
  "summary": "Investigators uncovered large amounts of cash hidden in a variety of spots: buried in forests, concealed in agricultural buildings and warehouses, stashed inside residential properties and stored in a high-value safe in a remote location.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Hungary seizes $18m cash tied to ex-Orban-era minister in probe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/hungary-seizes-18m-cash-tied-to-ex-orban-era-minister-in-probe",
        "published": "2026-11-14T08:39:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Hungary finds nearly $20 million in cash buried in forests in bribery probe of Orban-era minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/hungary-finds-nearly-20-million-in-cash-buried-in-forests-in-bribery",
        "published": "2026-11-14T09:02:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "Hungary: Millions in hidden cash found in Orban graft probe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/hungary-millions-in-hidden-cash-found-in-orban-graft-probe",
        "published": "2026-11-14T09:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Post",
        "title": "Hungary Seizes Over $18M in Buried Cash Linked to Ex-Orban Minister",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/hungary-seizes-over-18m-in-buried-cash-linked-to-ex-orban-minister",
        "published": "2026-11-14T11:02:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}