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Man arrested over theft $2M worth of gold

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A Florida man is facing charges after he allegedly stole more than $2 million worth of gold from a courier for a Bolivian gold mining company.

Raonel Valdez-Valhuerdis, 34, was arrested on Monday and charged with robbery with a firearm, battery and grand theft over $100,000 for the Oct. 12 robbery, WTVJ-TV, Miami, reported.

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Victim George Villegas said he was walking to his family business with two rolling suitcases containing 110 pounds of gold when three men stopped him in his Coral Gables apartment building.

"And they took the gun out and said in Spanish, we've come for the gold -- we just want the gold," Villegas said.

"This was very well planned. They knew I had received the gold," Villegas said. "They were waiting for me outside the elevator at 7:30 in the morning."

The three robbers fled the scene, but Villegas positively identified Valdez-Valhuerdis from a photo lineup, authorities said.

The other two men have not been identified and the gold has not yet been recovered.

The owner of the gold is offering $15,000 as a reward, police said.

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