Authorities confirm movie-like robbery at a gold smelter in Medellín

Robbers managed to flee after staging a robbery in a gold smelter in Medellín and taking part of the loot. The robbery began without attracting too much attention, when three men dressed as police officers began diverting traffic from the street where the gold foundry was located. 

Once the three men cleared the block, around 30 heavily armed men arrived in motorcycles, followed by a dump truck, which broke through the gate. Some robbers reportedly took several hostages, creating panic among workers. 

Francisco Barbosa, Colombia's Attorney General, confirmed that the robbers took 3,000 grams of unprocessed gold, which is worth more than 500 million pesos.

Desde el 23 de junio de 2020 a la fecha, se han registrado en Medellín 3 hurtos a empresas comercializadoras de oro. En todos los casos se habrían usado arietes para tumbar puertas de seguridad de las empresas y se habrían utilizado gran cantidad de motocicletas para huir. pic.twitter.com/vGtJHXH0Rv

— Fiscalía Colombia (@FiscaliaCol) November 5, 2021

Initial reports suggesting that the robbery had been botched went viral, and the mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, congratulated authorities for their action, but then the Attorney General's Office assured that the robbery actually happened.

The Attorney General's Office said it was able to establish that the alleged thieves who managed to flee took the gold with them, according to its investigation.

Natalia Rendón, director of the Prosecutor's Office in Medellín, confirmed that in addition to pilfering the gold, the assailants also took weapons. "They took a shotgun, a radio, a vest, 3,148 grams of unprocessed gold, which is valued at 550 million pesos. That is to say, the robbery was consummated," Rendón explained. 

The dump truck used to carry out the robbery was modified to knock down armored doors, Quintero said.

Durante la reacción judicial fueron incautadas 7 armas de fuego, 10 proveedores, 131 cartuchos de diferente calibre, un supresor de sonido, 10 chalecos antibalas y un chaleco de tránsito del municipio de Bello. Además de 13 motocicletas y 4 vehículos. pic.twitter.com/eu3VJLK0eZ

— Fiscalía Colombia (@FiscaliaCol) November 5, 2021

Yet on Thursday, 11 of the alleged robbers were captured with authorities saying it's possible that former employees of the gold foundry were also involved.

"Gold material was stolen for an amount of 500 million pesos," the prosecutor said. He added that the 11 defendants "will be charged with the crimes of aggravated and aggravated theft, illegal carrying of weapons for civilian and military use and illegal use of uniforms".

Colombian authorities announced a reward of 50 million Colombian pesos for those who provide information on the whereabouts of the alleged robbers operating in the districts of Medellín.