A group of armed men attempted to seize a large shipment of cash at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport in Santiago, Chile, resulting in a firefight and the deaths of a would-be robber and an airport security official. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as airport workers were moving $32.5m in cash off of a plane that had arrived from Miami. The robbers, numbering between 10 and 12, entered the airport in three vehicles and tied up a security guard before breaking through a gate and heading to the cargo area where they hoped to intercept the cash before it was moved locally by Brinks security. However, security officials engaged in a shootout with the robbers, foiling their plans.
Eduardo Baeza, the prosecutor leading the investigation, described the attempted heist as “highly organised, highly armed and probably very well-planned robbery”. Organised crime has been a growing concern in Chile in recent years, and the airport has been targeted in the past. In 2017, an armed group stole about $18m, and three years later, a similar heist took $15m from an armoured truck.
Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve told reporters that the robbers fled after being confronted by security officials, setting two of their vehicles on fire on a nearby highway. One of the assailants and an airport security official were killed during the firefight. A search for the remaining perpetrators is ongoing.
The attempted heist has raised concerns about the security measures in place at the Santiago airport. In response, Chilean authorities have vowed to increase security at the airport and other vulnerable locations. The incident also highlights the growing threat of organised crime in Chile and the need for stronger measures to combat it.
The attempted heist is not an isolated incident in Latin America. In recent years, there have been several high-profile heists targeting airports and other transportation hubs in the region. In 2018, a group of armed men stole $5m in cash from a Lufthansa plane at Brazil’s Viracopos International Airport. In 2019, thieves stole $2.5m in cash from a Lufthansa plane at Mexico’s Mexico City International Airport.
These incidents underscore the need for increased security measures at airports and other transportation hubs in Latin America. Governments in the region must work together to develop comprehensive strategies to combat organised crime and protect citizens and businesses from these types of attacks. This includes investing in advanced security technologies, increasing police presence at vulnerable locations, and improving intelligence gathering and sharing among law enforcement agencies.
In addition to these measures, businesses must also take steps to protect themselves from organised crime. This includes implementing robust security protocols for transporting valuable goods, conducting thorough background checks on employees and contractors, and investing in advanced security technologies such as biometric authentication and real-time tracking systems.
The attempted heist at the Santiago airport is a stark reminder of the growing threat of organised crime in Latin America and the need for stronger measures to combat it. Governments and businesses must work together to develop comprehensive strategies to protect citizens and assets from these types of attacks. Failure to do so could have devastating consequences for the region’s economy and security.