Group Steals US$ 5 Million From Lufthansa Plane in Brazil

03/06/2018 - 12h11

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FROM SÃO PAULO

On Sunday night (the 4th) at least five men armed with assault rifles invaded the runway at the Viracopos airport in Campinas (93 km [58 miles] from São Paulo) and stole US$ 5 million (approximately R$ 16.5 million) in cash that belonged to the Brinks security services company.

According to the Federal Police, which has opened up an investigation into the crime, the currency had been placed on the German airline Lufthansa plane at the Guarulhos airport (greater São Paulo).

From there, after a connection to Viracopos, the cargo aircraft was to have flown to Dakar with a final destination set for Frankfurt, Germany, according to Lufthansa.

The robbery took place at 9:40 PM just as the airplane was landing at Viracopos. The armed assailants entered the cargo terminal from a lateral access lane, located next to the Santos Dumont Highway (SP-75).

They used a Hilux pickup with painting and decals colored like that of airport runway security vehicles.

In the ensuing operation, they disarmed the security guards and stole the cash. Nobody was injured.

The Federal Police will lead the investigation due to the fact that the crime took place in the international section of the Viracopos airport.

In a written communique, police authorities said that an initial inspection had been completed and that several witnesses were providing testimony.

The concession operator for the Viracopos Airport, which is responsible for the terminal, announced that it would be cooperating with authorities in investigating the crime.

Brinks, in an official communique, also made itself fully available to investigators.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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