Six suspects arrested in $8 million gold, cash heist on Peru airport

LIMA, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Police in Peru arrested six suspected robbers after about 260 pounds of gold and $3.7 million in cash were stolen during a heist in an airport in the city of Juliaca.

The assault began when gunmen used tear gas to overpower guards of an armored transport truck and an airplane loaded with cash at the Inca Manco Cápac International Airport on Friday. A gunbattle continued and the robbers were able to make their escape in a getaway car, but not before setting ablaze the armored truck and the truck they used to initially launch the attack.

The cash and gold, estimated to be worth about $4.3 million, was being sent to Lima, Peru's capital, before the heist. The cash was divided into $1 million and 9 million nuevo sol, Peru's national currency, estimated at $2.7 million. Three people sustained gunshot wounds.

About 400 police officers launched a manhunt after the assault. The six captured suspects were found on Saturday in the town of Canchi Grande, near Juliaca, where officials recovered about 130 pounds of gold and $300,000 in Peruvian soles.

Investigators were investigating how robbers learned about the large shipment of gold and cash, when the airport itself was only informed of the arrival of the plane and of the armored trucks about 15 minutes beforehand.

Several flights scheduled to depart were suspended. About 150 people were aboard the plane when the assault began.

"We are terrified. We heard shots and the crew asked us to throw ourselves to the ground," passenger Rafael Vega said, according to Peruvian daily La República.