Customs officials at Frankfurt airport found 8.7 million euros (12.7 million dollars) in cash stashed in the luggage of a student, reports said Sunday.

The money was discovered during a routine check while the 29-year- old German was waiting to board a flight to the Middle East, customs officials told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

Prosecutors are investigating the man on suspicion of money laundering, the report said.

The cash, in 50 and 100-euro notes, was the biggest sum ever seized by customs from an individual in Germany, the report said.

The money was discovered ahead of a coordinated sweep by European customs agents to catch people smuggling cash.

The sweep netted 11 million euros, with half the sum seized in Germany.

   EU customs services, as well as Tunisia, Norway, Morocco and Croatia, took part in the September 10-17 operation code-named Athena.

Travellers leaving or arriving in Germany have to declare amounts above 10,000 euros.