US seizes $1.7M in gold bars from Curacao, site of recent heist

Published January 08, 2013
Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. authorities in Puerto Rico have seized 11 gold bars from Curacao, site of a gold heist in December.

A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the gold seized at the airport in Aguadilla weighs more than 76 pounds. It has an estimated value of $1.7 million. No arrests were made.

Spokesman Jeffrey Quinones says the gold had been shipped from the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.

On Nov. 30, gunmen in Curacao stole 70 gold bars worth an estimated $11.5 million from a fishing boat that had been used to transport it. Police arrested several suspects and recovered some of gold.

Curacao police spokesman Reginald Huggins said Tuesday he was not aware of the gold seized in Puerto Rico. U.S. officials said the source is under investigation.

US seizes $1.7M in gold bars from Curacao, site of recent heist | Fox News