Two Federal Police Officers Detained in Córdoba for Simulating Raid and Stealing $30 Million
Two PFA agents were arrested in Córdoba after stealing more than $30 million from a residence in the General Pueyrredón neighbourhood under the guise of a police operation.
Federal Police Officers Stole $30 Million in Córdoba Disguised as Official Operation
Two officers of the Argentine Federal Police were detained in Córdoba accused of stealing more than 30 million pesos during a false raid on a residence in the General Pueyrredón neighbourhood, according to elancasti.com.ar.
The incident occurred last Saturday. A Toyota Hilux van bearing the official PFA insignia arrived at the victims' home in the morning. Four suspects exited the vehicle; three of them wore uniforms, had their faces covered with balaclavas and wore gloves.
The group presented itself to the homeowner—who was with her small children—claiming they were executing a search warrant, and was accompanied by a supposed civilian witness. They never displayed a court order. Nevertheless, the woman allowed them entry. Whilst the false witness remained with the family, the others searched the property for valuable items.
The victims stated that the intruders took more than $30 million in cash, jewellery and other items. They also demolished a wall in search of a safe that did not exist and removed the hard drive containing recordings from the security cameras so as to leave no record of the robbery.
The complaint was filed when the homeowner returned and the victims consulted with police and judicial authorities. None acknowledged having ordered an operation at that address or at that time.
Federal prosecutors handled the case under prosecutor Maximiliano Hairabedian. The investigation, initiated on Monday, progressed rapidly. Review of neighbourhood security cameras made it possible to identify the patrol vehicle involved.
Investigators went to the PFA headquarters, where they found a Hilux assigned to the Investigations brigade that matched the vehicle used in the robbery. The federal force provided documentation and geolocation records of the vehicle, which yielded further evidence.
Analysis of that data revealed that the perpetrators had tampered with the odometer of the official van to conceal its use during the day of the robbery. Based on that evidence, investigators identified two suspects: official inspector Matías Mercado and corporal Emanuel Guardia.
The court ordered the seizure of both men's mobile phones. However, the officers had changed their devices during the week, so the phones contained no data relevant to the forensic examination. "Based on that development, the judge ordered their detention," judicial sources stated.
It also emerged that during the robbery the accused avoided calling each other by name to avoid leaving evidence. Mercado and Guardia remain in detention, whilst the investigation continues to identify the other two suspects who participated in the fraudulent operation.
Source: Google News AR — Crime