On the crime-ridden map of the southern Buenos Aires suburbs, a criminal organization stood out for its almost military efficiency and astonishing logistical speed. Dubbed by investigators as the "Hooded Band", this criminal structure managed to execute a millionaire heist of 50 million pesos in a mere 75 seconds, demonstrating a level of planning that is only explained by the discovery of a key piece in their machinery: the active participation of a police officer. The investigation, which recently culminated in the arrest of three suspects, has uncovered a modus operandi where violence and timing went hand in hand, sowing terror in wholesale and financial businesses in the Quilmes area. The most significant event attributed to the band was the robbery of the livestock products firm Marbel S.A., located strategically near the Las Piedras stream. While one faction subdued the driver of a cargo truck, the rest headed directly to the administration. In just one minute and fifteen seconds, the robbers secured two boxes containing 50 million pesos, fleeing before security forces could react. They did not hesitate to fire shots at the walls to intimidate the victims, seeking immediate submission to meet their tight escape times," explained a source close to the investigation, cited in the Clarín newspaper. Nine days before the millionaire heist, the band had left its mark on the wholesaler "El Polaco", at the intersection of 187 Street and Roque Cisterna. Justice is now focusing on identifying the rest of the members—at least two more—who remain at large and are believed to have participated in the material execution of the robberies. This case once again puts on the public agenda the problem of "internal forces" infiltrated into criminal organizations and the need to deepen internal controls in local prevention units. At the time of his arrest, the officer was carrying his regulation 9-millimeter pistol with a bullet in the chamber, ready to be used. Due to the involvement of a provincial force member, the Buenos Aires Ministry of Security gave the Argentine Federal Police (PFA) and the General Audit of Internal Affairs (AGAI) jurisdiction, who ordered the immediate removal of the officer. Despite the weight of the evidence and film recordings, the three detainees availed themselves of their constitutional right to remain silent. This speed was not fortuitous; investigators maintain that the group had internal intelligence information and superior tactical coordination. Among the detainees was a Sergeant of the Local Police Prevention Unit (UPPL) of Florencio Varela. "The events were extremely violent. On that occasion, five hooded individuals descended from a Volkswagen CrossFox and, in three minutes, despoiled the business of cash and a Renault Oroch pickup truck, which would later be used as a logistical tool in the Marbel S.A. heist. Despite their apparent professionalism, this event left two vital clues, as on the one hand the original vehicle did not start during the escape, forcing the criminals to push it with their faces covered. In addition, security cameras captured the moment when, in addition to the loot, one of the thieves stole a box of wine, a detail that would allow for behavioral profiling. The progress of the case, led by Dr. Javier Barrera, the substitute prosecutor of the Instructional Functional Unit (UFI) No. 7 of Quilmes, along with the secretary of the prosecution Cristian Hernández, allowed for the identification of a flight pattern: the recurrent use of a Nissan Versa for the transfer of the criminals. The surprise for the investigators of the Operational Tactical Group (GTO) of the Buenos Aires Police came when they intercepted said vehicle in Quilmes West. With the precision of a Swiss watch, the criminals burst into the establishment using a truck stolen in a previous heist.
