An Italian grocer tried smuggling CHF 2.4 million worth of gold through the Chiasso border crossing in the canton of Ticino.

Italian Financial Police said the grocer and his adult daughter were stopped just past the crossing by a mobile checkpoint, and at first seemed normal.

But the grocer’s behavior was curious, police say, leading to a detailed search.

A compartment under a seat held 50 kilos of 18-karat gold bars.

Neither the man, nor his daughter, wanted to explain from where the gold came.