Customs officials at the Greek-Turkish border crossing of Kipoi have confiscated the largest amount of gold that anyone has ever attempted to smuggle out of the country.

The loot was found hidden in a taxi and consisted of 18 bars of unrefined gold, weighing 33.5 kilos, along with four crosses made of oure gold (11.6 grams).

The gold was found last Friday during a police check on cars planing to cross the border.

The suspects hid seven gold bars and the four crosses in the car’s passenger armrest while the other 11 bars were concealed in their luggage.

The value of the gold is estimated at 800,000 euros, which translates into 200,000 euros in unpaid tax revenue for the Greek state.

The undisclosed number of suspects, whose identity was not revealed, have appeared before a prosecutor, authorities said.