The Vatican said Tuesday that it is “perplexed and surprised” by a money laundering probe after police seize euro23 million.

The ANSA news agency says Italian financial police seized the $30 million from an account in the Vatican bank in the money laundering investigation.

The report Tuesday said the bank’s chairman and another official have been placed under investigation for alleged mistakes linked to violations of the Italy’s anti-laundering laws.

The report says the money was seized as a precaution from the account of an Italian bank.

News reports circulated more than a year ago saying Italian investigators were scrutinizing millions of euros worth of Vatican bank transactions to see whether they violated money laundering regulations.