Santander (EFE) a branch of Somo.
Two of the four detainees, aged 67 and 48, had been part of the well-known La Viuda gang for more than a decade, responsible for the robbery at the Cambrills bank in which a cashier was shot to death in 2010.
The robbers, who have entered prison, were arrested at the end of February after an operation in which fifty agents participated. Two of them were arrested next to the bank branch they were about to rob, while the other two, who managed to flee down the highway, were arrested in the town of Liendo.
dangerous criminals
The government delegates in Cantabria and Navarra, Ainoa Quiñones and José Luis Arasti, informed this Wednesday at a press conference of the details of the so-called Barrengolp-Mozorroa operation, because the gang wore work uniforms like those of street sweepers to commit robberies, in addition to wigs, caps and a mask to make their identification difficult.
Both have highlighted the extensive criminal history of the two detainees from the La Viuda gang and the dangerousness of the group, which threatened bank employees with firearms and in most of the robberies, tied them with zip ties while waiting for them to arrive. the box was opened.
The first robbery took place on July 8, 2021 in the Navarran town of Arbizu, taking advantage of the fact that during the San Fermín festivities the police presence is concentrated in Pamplona, and the second was on December 17 of that same year in Puente Viesgo.
In 2022, two branches were docked in towns in Navarra, in Lakuntza, on July 7, and Lekumberri, in August and another in Cantabria, specifically on December 22 in Roiz. In total they made a booty of 360,000 euros.
As explained by the Civil Guard, the group was very well organized, all the members had their missions perfectly defined and acted with great professionalism.
In all cases they chose branches well connected by highway to be able to flee easily. In the robberies in Cantabria, two robbers entered the banks, while the rest waited outside, but in the three in Navarra, only one entered the bank.
A “quiet” guy
The testimonies of the employees agree on the great calm with which the robber from Navarra acted, who waited in a chair for the 15 or 20 minute delay time in opening the box without getting nervous.
In addition, when they left, he told them to wait 30 or 40 minutes, threatening them that he knew where they lived or what car they had, information that the gang found out in their surveillance to prepare their attacks.
Investigators from Cantabria and Navarra came to the conclusion that the robberies in the two communities could have been committed by the same organized group. And they identified their alleged ringleader, 67, who had been in prison for the Cambrills robbery, after ruling out 22 other candidates.
The other member of La Viuda was dedicated to logistics in this gang, especially getting hold of vehicles to commit the robberies.
The group had watched several bank branches in different towns in Cantabria before opting for Somo, where 50 Civil Guard agents were waiting for them on February 21.
In addition to the judicial police of Cantabria and Navarra, members of the Central Operative Unit and the Special Intervention Unit participated in the operation.
The Civil Guard has seized four vehicles and has carried out three house searches, two in Vizcaya and one in Cantabria.
In addition to the four detainees, there is one investigated for his alleged collaboration with the band.
Together with the Government delegates, the commanders of the Civil Guard in Cantabria and Navarra, Antonio Orantos and José Santiago Martín, and two of those responsible for the investigation, Commander Arturo Marcos (Cantabria) and Lieutenant Fernando, have reported on the operation. Diez (Navarra).