MELVINDALE, Mich. -- It’s the ultimate case of finder's keepers. One person's loss of more than $1 million is likely the Melvindale Police Department's gain.

The Melvindale police said they seized several duffel bags containing $1.2 million in cash from a semitrailer Tuesday.

During a traffic stop on I-75 and Schafer Road, officers said the driver's story seemed shady.

"His story of where he was going and where he came from didn't match the documentation he provided," said Melvindale Lt. Chad Hayes.

Officers called in K-9s to sniff the tractor-trailer for drugs. No drugs were found, but the dogs spotted three 60-pound duffel bags containing money in the cabin.

Police said they are certain the money was from drugs because the K-9s smelled traces of drugs on the cash.

The driver, who was from California, said the money was not his and that he was paid a fee to pick up the money in Detroit and transfer it to Arizona.

He was taken in for questioning and then released after he signed a letter stating that Melvindale police could forfeit his tractor-trailer and its contents.

"We had nothing illegal on him. He had a valid driver's license on him, so we let him go," said Hayes.

Police said they don't believe the owner of the money will come to the department looking for it since it was probably gained illegally.

"Well, the money is ours. The owner has 20 days to contest it. If nobody shows up, it's ours," said Hayes.

The Police Department is waiting on final approval from the state to keep the cash.

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