BERLIN (AP) — The German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reports that a man caught last month trying to enter Germany with a check worth about $70 million was Iran’s former central bank chief.

The weekly reports that customs officials at Duesseldorf airport found the check in Tahmasb Mazaheri’s luggage Jan. 21 upon his arrival from Turkey.

German customs had issued a statement Friday saying a check for 300 million Venezuelan Bolivars issued by the Bank of Venezuela was found on an unnamed 59-year-old man.

Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

Neither customs officials nor Iran’s embassy could be reached for comment late Saturday.

Mazaheri was the governor of the Central Bank of Iran from 2007-2008.

Bild am Sonntag reported in its Sunday edition that German police and customs are investigating possible money laundering.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.