The Mexican Employers Federation claimed that thieves got into a freight storage area at the Pacific coast harbour of Manzanillo and seized 20 freight containers stocked with partially refined gold and silver ore and television sets as reported by Washington Post.
Lack of safety
The federation’s president, José Medina-Mora, said the large-scale robbery was indicative of escalating crime in Mexico.
“There is an increasing lack of safety, which is an indication of what is occurring in the country and necessitates action by authorities,” Medina Mora said.
The state of Colima, where Manzanillo is located, has not issued a formal statement regarding the heist on June 5.
However, Mexico’s customs chief, Horacio Duarte, acknowledged the robbery and claimed that organised crime was involved.
“This was a major organised crime ring,” Duarte explained.
According to local media sources, roughly ten armed robbers made their way into a private freight dispatch yard near the port, restrained staff, and then searched for the shipping containers for many hours.
Frequent robberies
The containers were then allegedly connected up to trucks and driven away by the robbers. Since then, no trace of the containers or their contents has been found.
In Mexico, freight theft is a big problem, but it usually entails thieves stealing one vehicle at a time on highways, rather than driving away with 20 freight containers.
Television sets are frequently sold on the country’s large black markets, but it was unknown where thieves could sell tonnes of partially processed gold and silver ore. Any refiner would probably inquire as to where it came from.
Prosecutors and police in Colima have been dealing with a more immediate issue, with protesters blocking roadways to protest the kidnapping and murders of locals. So far this month, two police officers have been killed in the state, which is dominated by the Jalisco drug gang.
Did you subscribe to our newsletter?
It’s free! Click here to subscribe!
Source: Washington Post
