Argentine authorities may have averted the "theft of the century" when they discovered a large tunnel of about 220 meters (750 feet) dug in the direction of a bank in San Isidro, a wealthy suburb north of the capital Buenos Aires, on Thursday.
The tunnel, which was dug 3 meters (10 feet) underground, has a thick wooden frame, a ventilation system and electricity, and ends a few meters from the "Macro Bank", according to police.
The tunnel was discovered by chance when a parked car driver heard a noise from the body of his car on Wednesday, before realizing that it was a metal rod protruding from between the paving stones of the street.
The local prosecutor's office ordered a search, which led to the discovery of the tunnel and the identification of its starting point, an abandoned barn 200 meters away, where a large amount of earthmoving and excavation equipment was discovered.
Police did not announce any arrests in the case on Thursday.
Investigators estimate that the tunnel took between six and nine months to build, describing it as an “engineering feat” “better than the tunnel of ‘El Chapo’ Guzman,” referring to the tunnel used by the notorious Mexican drug lord to escape from prison in 2015.
The incident brings to mind an incident that took place in the same city of San Isidro in 2006 and was described as the “robbery of the century,” when a group of thieves stole nearly $19 million from a bank, escaping through a tunnel they had dug over a year to facilitate their escape, after simulating a long hostage situation inside.
During this robbery, which has been the subject of books, TV series and films, the gang used fake weapons and left a note in the safe room that read, “In a rich neighborhood, without weapons or grudges, there is only money without love.”
Comments