A recent routine traffic stop in the Mexican neighbourhood of Villa Verdún, Santa Fe, led authorities to 20 of the 1,567 gold coins stolen by four armed suspects from the country’s federal mint two months earlier.
On Sept. 30, police stopped a 41-year-old man driving without his seat belt before searching his vehicle and finding the 20 gold coins. The man, whose name was not released by police, told investigators he purchased the coins from a jewelry shop in the historic city centre. He remained in custody until at least Oct. 1, but investigators did not reveal if he was tied to the bank robbery.
Altogether, $2.5 million worth of gold coins were stolen from the Casa de Moneda de Mexico in the heart of Mexico City on Aug. 6. Three men arrived at the mint at 9:30 a.m. local time before exiting 10 minutes later and leaving the area in a car, which was later located by authorities.
Investigators believe a pair of cousins – Edgar Tenorio and Pablo Tenorio, identified by the former’s father – are involved in the robbery along with a third suspect, Yahel López.
A fourth suspect is believed to be one of the three men’s girlfriend.