Weapons, threatened people and a million pesos: the unusual robbery of the National Congress that ended with two fugitives for more than 20 years

Weapons, threatened people and a million pesos: the unusual robbery of the National Congress that ended with two fugitives for more than 20 years

October 7, 2024 – 07:30

The robbery of the National Congress was a before and after in security operations for public organizations.

Mariano Fuchila

Lately, the robberies In the country they are increasingly creative and unusual. The crime cases They continue to grow and strategies are renewed with the advances of the police to prevent and read the movements of the gangs before they attack.

However, there are cases that went down in history due to their novelty and the large amounts of money that were stolen in the crime. He robbery of the National Congress was one of them, with a loot of more than a million pesos and a dramatic sequence tinged with political overtones.

bank robbery thief

The political context of the robbery of the National Congress

The robbery of the Argentine National Congress occurred on February 10, 2000in a very particular political and economic context. At that time, the country was under the presidency of Fernando De la Ruawho had assumed office just two months earlier, after a decade of Carlos Menem’s government. The Argentine economy was in a delicate situation, with a ongoing recession and a rising unemployment rate. In addition, the country maintained the Convertibility Law, where one Argentine peso was equivalent to one US dollar, which generated economic tensions additional.

What was the robbery of Congress like in 2000?

On the day of the robbery, while De la Rúa and the governor of Buenos Aires, Carlos Ruckauf, were discussing measures to combat insecurity, four armed men entered the Congressional Treasury. Dressed in a suit and tie, they managed to pass without problems through the security checkpoints, which did not function properly. Once inside, they subdued eight people, including two deputiesand they forced the treasurer to open the safe. They took approximately a million dollarsintended for the salaries of Congressional staff.

The criminals behind the robbery were led by Angel Manzanellian expert in high-profile robberies. The planning of the assault was meticulous and took advantage of deficiencies in the Congressional security system. Despite the magnitude of the theft, not a single shot was fired.

What happened to the criminals who robbed Congress?

Months later, one of the perpetrators was captured and convicted, but his accomplices and the stolen money was never found. The investigation revealed the possible complicity of congressional employees, adding a layer of complexity and controversy to the case.

The robbery of Congress was not only an economic blow, but also a symbol of insecurity and corruption that affected the country at that time. The audacity of the assault and the inability to recover the money or capture all those responsible left a mark on the collective memory of Argentines.

Source: Ambito

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