Nick Mead, a military enthusiast who purchased an ex-Iraqi Army Type 69 tank on eBay, stumbled upon £2 million worth of gold bars hidden inside its diesel tank in 2017. The discovery, five gold bars stashed within the 36.7-ton armored vehicle, is believed to have been looted by Iraqi soldiers during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and then forgotten. Despite the astonishment at finding the treasure, Mead handed the gold over to authorities, a decision he now regrets after six years, lamenting the lack of any compensation or finders’ fee.
Summary: In 2017, Nick Mead, a military enthusiast, found £2 million in gold bars hidden inside an ex-Iraqi Army tank bought on eBay. Believed to be looted during the 1990 Kuwait invasion, Mead surrendered the treasure to authorities, regretting the lack of compensation.
Highlights:
- Discovery of £2 million in gold bars within the tank, suspected to be looted during the 1990 invasion.
- Mead, the owner of Tanks-a-Lot, regretted surrendering the treasure, wishing for recognition or compensation.
- Despite acquiring the tank for £30k and refurbishing it for a ‘From Russia With Love’ experience, Mead relinquished the gold to Northamptonshire Police, stored in London for investigation.
The 62-year-old, owner of Tanks-a-Lot in Northamptonshire, mentioned to MailOnline that he wished he had received some recognition for the find. Initially, after the discovery, there were jests about how they’d spend the money, with thoughts of a Land Rover for his sister and a custom-made pickup truck from a Rolls Royce Phantom for himself.
The tank, a Chinese copy of the Russian T-55, was acquired by Mead, a self-taught mechanic restoring military vehicles for seven years. Despite buying it without a functioning engine and tracks, he managed to refurbish the tank. His initial idea was to create a ‘From Russia With Love’ experience, offering people the chance to drive three Russian tanks. Frequenting eBay for military vehicles, Mead managed to purchase this particular tank for £30k, a deal he considers a success given their usual price range of £10k to £60k.
After the discovery, Northamptonshire Police took custody of the gold bars for investigation, leaving Mead with a receipt now safely stored in a London safety deposit box. Investigations might lead to Kuwait to match the gold with any bullion stolen during Iraq’s 1990 invasion.
Despite the uncertain outcome, Mead seems resigned to the possibility of not benefiting from the find. He’s received odd calls, including one from a person claiming to be a British Army colonel asserting ownership of the gold. For now, the fate of the discovered treasure remains unknown, leaving Mead with lingering regret over the decision to hand it in without any compensation.