Rapper Snoop Dogg stopped in Italy airport with over $500,000 in cash

Snoop Dogg was preparing to board a private plane bound for Britain with $577,000 in cash in his Louis Vuitton luggage. AFP

ROME (REUTERS, AFP) - Italian police stopped California rapper Snoop Dogg on Friday as he prepared to board a private plane bound for Britain with US$422,000 (S$577,000) in cash in his Louis Vuitton luggage, said an Italian lawyer representing the entertainer.

In the European Union, the maximum amount of undeclared cash one can take on board a plane is €10,000 (S$15,000), as part of efforts to combat money laundering.

The Drop It Like It's Hot singer had performed two shows in the south of Italy and was on his way to Britain, where he is slated to take to the stage at the Kendal Calling Festival, according to the AGI news agency.

During a security check at Lamezia Terme airport before the rapper boarded his private jet, police saw two bags full of cash, totalling US$422,000.

The artist cooperated with the authorities and only asked that he could leave as soon as possible for London, local reports said.

According to AGI, four lawyers have been assigned to the case and Snoop Dogg will be able to reclaim the rest of his money after paying a fine.

The airport incident comes barely a week after the 43-year-old was briefly arrested by police in Sweden on suspicion of using illegal drugs.

Snoop Dogg has been touring Europe after releasing the album Bush earlier this year.

His lawyer Andrea Parisi told Reuters on Saturday: "We clarified everything from a legal point of view. The money came from concerts he had performed around Europe. There was no crime; it was just an administrative infraction."

Half of the cash was given back to Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, while the other half is being held by Italian authorities until the amount of the fine is determined, Parisi said.

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