In the style of “El Chapo” .. Argentina avoids the “theft of the century” | News

It may be Argentina The “theft of the century” was averted when, by chance, a large tunnel of about 220 meters was discovered yesterday, Thursday, in San Isidro, a wealthy suburb north of the capital, Buenos Aires, dug towards a drain.

The tunnel, which was dug 3 metres underground, has a thick wooden frame, ventilation and electricity, and ends just metres from the Macro Bank, according to police.

The tunnel was discovered by chance, when a parked car driver heard a noise coming from his car’s body the day before yesterday, Wednesday, before realizing that it was a metal rod protruding from between the sidewalk stones.

The local prosecutor’s office ordered a search, which led to the tunnel being found and its starting point being identified, an abandoned barn 200 metres away, where a large amount of earthmoving and excavation equipment was discovered.

#SanIsidro THE MAP OF THE ROBBERY OF THE CENTURY WITH DETAILS, THE DELIVERY MAN WHO FOILED IT AND THE MOMENT WHEN THE POLICE WENT UNDERGROUND

There are still no arrests or suspects. They planned it for more than a year and are now investigating why an unusual mistake left them with nothing. pic.twitter.com/UhwlCb2CcK

— 24con (@24conurbano) August 9, 2024

Investigators estimate that the tunnel took between six and nine months to build, describing it as an “engineering feat” and “better than El Chapo Guzman’s tunnel,” referring to the tunnel used by the notorious Mexican drug lord to escape from prison in 2015.

The incident brings to mind an incident that took place in the same city of San Isidro in 2006, which was described as the “robbery of the century,” when a group of thieves stole nearly $19 million from a bank, escaping through a tunnel they had dug over a year to facilitate their escape after simulating a long hostage situation inside.

During this robbery – which has been the subject of books, TV series and films – the gang used fake weapons and left a note in the safe room that read: “In a rich neighborhood, without weapons or grudges, there is only money and no love.”