Police in Baerum, a municipality west of Oslo, seized almost 67,000 American Eagle silver coins – valued at roughly $2.65 million – after a tip about a van that swerved on a highway in April 2025. The coins, hidden in two vans, were part of a larger effort to convert proceeds from a U.S. investment scheme into physical assets.
Legal outcome
The economic crime unit Okokrim announced that three Norwegians – two men and a woman – have been sentenced to up to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison for aggravated money‑laundering. They were convicted of organizing the scheme and storing the silver hoard. Two British nationals facing related charges were acquitted, and both sides retain the right to appeal.
Official response
Public Prosecutor Jon André Hvoslef‑Eide said the recovery is “gratifying” and that the verdict will enable victims of the U.S. fraud to have the misappropriated assets returned once the judicial process is complete.
Background
The silver haul follows a 2019 discovery of 79,500 U.S. coins in Norway. Investigators have been working with American authorities to locate additional missing coins. The U.S. Mint produces American Eagle coins in gold, silver and palladium for collectors, and the recent rise in silver prices has increased the haul’s value.
Implications
This case highlights the challenges of cross‑border money‑laundering investigations and the importance of international cooperation. It also underscores the risk that fraudulent investment schemes can generate large physical‑asset caches that complicate asset recovery efforts.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
