Life is full of surprises, but few can top the one Nick Mead, a British collector of military vehicles experienced.
Used By The Iraqi Army
Mead, who owns over 150 military vehicles at his farm in Helmdon, Northamptonshire, runs a kind of military-themed attraction where visitors can ride in tanks and military cars for a small fee.
In his quest to expand his collection, Mead often searches for unique vehicles. He came across a listing on eBay for a T-69 tank, a Chinese version of the Soviet T-54 tank.
This particular tank had an intriguing history — it had been used by the Iraqi army during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
Mead purchased the tank for approximately €36,000 (about $38,000) and, knowing Iraq’s reputation for looting valuables during that conflict, decided to inspect it carefully.
Found Five Gold Bars
Mead and his trusted mechanic recorded their inspection on video, just in case they found anything interesting. When they opened the fuel compartment, they discovered something incredible: five gold bars, each weighing around 11 pounds (5 kilograms), totaling around 55 pounds.
In total, the gold was valued at approximately €2.5 million (around $2.7 million).
Understanding the legal implications, Mead contacted the police, who promptly took possession of the gold bars.They issued Mead a receipt, noting that if no one claimed the bars, ownership could potentially transfer to him.
However, the situation is complex — since these gold bars are considered war spoils, the government of Kuwait may have the legal right to claim them as they were looted from their country.
