Senior general found dead in Hungary the same day the Ukrainian cash convoy was seized

A senior general of Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) was reportedly found dead after attending an exclusive celebration on the same night authorities seized a Ukrainian cash-transport convoy, which he was a key figure of, according to investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi.

The general died at a private event after the cash-transport convoy case

The general, a brigadier in the finance guard, was discovered on 6 March in a shallow lake near a rural property in Somogy County, where a private event had taken place the night before. According to Panyi’s reporting, the gathering was organised to celebrate the promotion of Tamás Demeter, a newly appointed lieutenant general and deputy head of NAV’s criminal and law-enforcement division.

It was an exclusive gathering of senior officials

The event was held at the Zselicvölgy Leisure Farm and reportedly had an exclusive guest list of more than one hundred invitees. Around eighty people are said to have attended, including senior NAV officials, generals, state secretaries and at least one member of parliament from the ruling Fidesz party.

Security cameras reportedly captured the deceased general shortly before midnight. His body was later recovered from a lake on the property, and reports say head injuries were found. Sources cited by the journalist claim authorities consider the incident a tragic accident following a night of celebrations, with no other explanations currently under consideration.

In case you missed the operation: Ukrainian bank staff detained in Hungary, Kyiv alleges “hostage-taking”, Budapest launches money-laundering probe. The Ukrainian bank demands return of millions of dollars, euros and gold seized by Hungary. Also, there’s a huge controversy regarding the cash convoy, since Orbán ally’s firm transported billions to Ukraine for years.

No public announcement at the time

Neither the police nor NAV initially made a public statement about the death. According to Panyi, the incident may not have been immediately disclosed because of its timing: the same day, authorities carried out a high-profile operation seizing a Ukrainian cash-transport vehicle on the M0 motorway near Budapest.

The Hungarian tax authority later confirmed that the deceased general had passed away and stated that the organisation regards him as its own fallen colleague, emphasising his long and respected service while declining to engage in what it described as political narratives surrounding the case.