A Vatican car with a diplomatic number-plate has been found to have been carrying large amounts of cocaine.

The car was pulled over in Paris by police, and when searched, four kilograms of cocaine and 200 grams of cannabis were found.

The vehicle belonged to 91-year-old Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mejia, emeritus librarian at the Holy See, who retired in 2003 and who is currently bedridden.

French radio reported that the cardinal’s private secretary entrusted the vehicle to two Italian men to take it for its annual check-up.

The two men promptly drove to Spain to buy the drugs, thinking that they would be protected by the diplomatic plates, according to RTL radio – a scenario not yet confirmed by legal sources.

Check out the full story on Sydney Morning Herald.