Police find 3rd oil drum stuffed with millions of dollars, presumably stashed by drug gangs

Salvadoran police find 3rd cash-filled oil drum

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Salvadoran police say they have found a third oil drum stuffed with millions of dollars in cash that they believe to be drug trafficking profits.

National Civil Police director Carlos Ascencio says the plastic barrel was found Friday night buried in an upscale neighborhood west of the capital, San Salvador. He says it contained packets of $100 bills adding up to $4.2 million.

This is the third barrel of money authorities have found in a week.

The first two barrels, containing about $10 million in U.S. dollars, were found on a ranch outside the capital last week.

Ascencio says the finds are the result of a nationwide investigation of organized crime and drug traffickers. U.S. drug agents have been helping out with the investigation.