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A group of gunmen in Chile stole several containers full of copper belonging to state-owned giant Codelco on Wednesday, increasing pressure on the security of shipments in the world’s largest copper producer.
The assailants took 13 containers destined for China from the port of San Antonio in central Chile. Citing police sources, local media reported that the copper sheets had an estimated value of $4.4 million.
This is the largest copper theft since a series of robberies in northern Chile forced the government to tighten security on trains carrying copper cathodes.
Chilean mining companies have repeatedly reported the theft of copper by specialized gangs. Authorities have attributed the train robberies to international criminal groups, while police reported that Wednesday’s theft may be the work of a local group.
This is a gang that could be operating in San Antonio, because there are other crimes with similar characteristics,” said local police Captain Gonzalo Garcia, adding that it was a well-planned heist.
“They cut the security cameras and the other part of the gang entered to intimidate the guards and workers.” Garcia reported that the thieves then used trucks to remove the containers.
The prosecutor’s office and port authorities were not immediately available to comment.
