Hungarian authorities seize $19.5 million in cash during anti-corruption searches

Hungarian authorities seized approximately $19.5 million in cash during anti-corruption searches related to a bribery investigation into former minister Miklós Seszták. The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office conducted these searches on November 12 and 13, 2026, across several locations. The operation targeted various sites including Budapest and the counties of Pest, Békés, and Nógrád.

Recovered cash and locations

Investigators recovered a massive amount of currency during the raids, totaling approximately $19.5 million. The specific breakdown of the seized cash includes 5,071,632,000 Hungarian forints, €2,658,350, and $1,257,100 in US Dollars. The recovered funds have been deposited into the Hungarian State Treasury account.

The cash was found in several different environments. Authorities discovered portions of the money buried in forests and hidden within agricultural buildings and warehouses. Some funds were located in residential properties, while other amounts were stored in a high-value safe at a secluded location. Finance Minister András Kármán stated that 12 Treasury employees spent 8 hours counting the money using 5 counting machines.

Investigation into Miklós Seszták

The anti-corruption drive is part of an initiative by the government of Prime Minister Péter Magyar to investigate alleged corruption from the previous administration. The current investigation specifically targets Miklós Seszták, who served as the minister of national development from 2014 to 2018.

Miklós Seszták is accused of receiving bribes linked to inflated prices for secondhand buses purchased by the state transport company Volánbusz. The Buda Central District Court ordered the detention of Miklós Seszták on September 30, 2025, and extended that detention until January 30, 2026. The investigation involves allegations of substantial illicit payments.

Political context and reactions

The current administration is conducting a sweeping anti-corruption drive following the election in April 2026 that ended the 16-year rule of Viktor Orbán. Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated that the seizure marks the end of the Fidesz-KDNP mafia.

The Fidesz party issued a statement expressing hope that the seized cash is not connected to Miklós Seszták. Meanwhile, Gabor Papp, the lawyer for Miklós Seszták, stated that the seized cash does not belong to Miklós Seszták.

Glossary

• National Asset Recovery and Protection Office — The National Asset Recovery and Protection Office is an autonomous prosecuting government agency in Hungary. It is tasked with investigating cases of public assets misuse and recovering unlawfully acquired assets.
• Hungarian State Treasury — The Hungarian State Treasury is an institution that holds accounts for funds, such as those recovered during investigations.