More than 31 years after this theft, not all of the stolen banknotes could still be recovered. Find out how they planned it.
The robbery of the Bank of the Republic in Valledupar, Colombia, is one of the most shocking and elaborate robberies in the history of the country. This robbery, which occurred on October 16, 1994not only shocked the Cesar region, but also attracted international attention due to the millionaire sum stolen and the meticulousness with which it was executed.
The robbery of the Bank of the Republic in Valledupar marked a before and after in security measures financial in Colombia. Following the incident, banking institutions reinforced their security systems, including the installation of more sophisticated alarms, continuous monitoring, and stricter facility reviews.
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Robbery at the Bank of the Republic in Valledupar: this was the preparations
In the months prior to the robbery, a group of criminals led by Jaime Martínez Gómez, known as “El Ingeniero”, carefully planned the assault. The band was made up of experts in different disciplines, including locksmiths, engineers and explosives specialists. For weeks, the group studied the movements of bank employees, security measures and alarm systems.
The main strategy was to dig a tunnel of approximately 80 meters from a rented house near the bank to the main vault. This tunnel, equipped with ventilation and light systems, was a feat of engineering that required months of silent and meticulous work.
This was the robbery of the Banco de la República in Valledupar
On October 16, the robbers entered the bank through the tunnel and managed to open the main vault using specialized tools. They took 24 billion Colombian pesosa figure equivalent to more than 30 million dollars at that time. The stolen sum represented one of the largest economic losses in the history of the Colombian banking system.
The robbery was executed over a holiday weekend, giving the criminals enough time to operate without interruption. When bank employees returned on Monday, they discovered the hole in the vault and the money missing.
Vallenato bills
After the robbery, authorities detected that a significant portion of the money began to appear in common transactionsespecially in businesses and businesses in the area. This phenomenon led to them being popularly called “vallenato bills.” Many merchants accepted the money, aware of its illicit origin, while others rejected it for fear of being linked to the case.
The Police and the Prosecutor’s Office carried out operations to identify these banknotes, especially since the serial numbers were already registered. However, tracking large amounts of cash proved difficult, especially at a time when digitization of transactions was minimal.
Although part of the bills were recovered in operations or voluntary deliveries, a considerable portion was never recovered. Some reports indicate that they were used to finance other illicit activities, while others were left in the hands of the local population.
Source: Ambito
