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Gunmen Steal $11.5M in Gold From Fishing Boat

Curacao police say robbers posed as customs officials

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 2, 2012 5:31 PM CST

(Newser) – Here's a fishy one: Police on the Caribbean island of Curacao say they are investigating after armed men robbed a fishing boat of $11.5 million in gold bars on Friday, the AP reports. The alleged robbers wore police jackets and told the boat's crew they were customs officials in order to get to the gold. Police say they made off with 70 gold bars, weighing 476 pounds, in three cars—and authorities have one of the license plates.

Why a fishing boat docked at Curacao would have $11.5 million in gold is another question. Police are still questioning the captain and three crew members of "Summer Bliss," but one crew member tells the AP that the boat left the South American country of Guyana on Monday and arrived in the Caribbean on Friday—with plans to deliver the gold to an unidentified company. "We don't want to jump the gun and say that the gold is from Guyana," said one official, but that country yields 650,000 ounces of gold annually—and some say half of that is smuggled out in order to dodge tax payments.

The Summer Bliss fishing boat sits docked at the Willemstad port in Curacao, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012.
The "Summer Bliss" fishing boat sits docked at the Willemstad port in Curacao, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012.   (AP Photo/Karen Attiah)
The Summer Bliss fishing boat sits docked at the Willemstad port in Curacao, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012.
The "Summer Bliss" fishing boat sits docked at the Willemstad port in Curacao, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012.   (AP Photo/Karen Attiah)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 37 comments
right2dave
Dec 5, 2012 7:34 AM CST
New reality show...RObbers Catch?
HANKHILL
Dec 3, 2012 5:26 PM CST
good job guys i will help to hide so of the take for you! pobox 12432 in--------
Tology
Dec 3, 2012 11:40 AM CST
Mitt was moving some funds on shore.
 

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