Port Authority cops seized more than $100,000 cash from an unregistered van that reeked of marijuana as it headed toward the Holland Tunnel, authorities said Thursday.
Bentley Cumberbatch, 41, of Brooklyn was driving a green van with two other men inside when he pulled up to the tunnel toll booth in Jersey City at about 4 p.m. and asked the toll collector how much he had to pay, Port Authority police said.
The toll collector asked a nearby Port Authority officer for assistance and when the cop approached the van, he picked up a strong smell of marijuana, cops said.
Cumberbatch then admitted he had recently smoked pot and he placed under arrested by PAPD officers.
Officers searched the van and found a stash of cash wrapped in plastic in four separate bags along with loose bills in several places. The vehicle was unregistered with no insurance.
More than $106,900 was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency, according to authorities. A drug detection dog indicated that the cash was positive for having been exposed to drugs.
Cumberbatch was arrested and charged with with possession of marijuana, DWI, money laundering in the second-degree and driving an unregistered, uninsured vehicle.
A second passenger Reinaldo Stewart, 35, of Brooklyn was found to be in possession of one bag of suspected marijuana and was charged with possession of marijuana.
Another passenger, Damien White, 39, also of Brooklyn, was arrested on charges of money laundering.