Armed Group Steals 20 Containers with Gold, Silver in Manzanillo

An armed group stole 20 containers with shipments of gold, silver, zinc and televisions in Manzanillo, Colima, denounced the Port of Manzanillo authorities. The investigation started this weekend, sources from the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) confirmed to several media outlets.

The Mexican Navy (SEMAR) informed that the theft did not happen at the Port of Manzanillo, but within the facilities of a private company. “The protection and security of merchandise within this type of facility is the responsibility of the owner and private security, and it has the permission of the municipal government to carry out its activities, remaining outside the area of responsibility of this institution,” said SEMAR through a press release.

The armed group, which is estimated to be made up of 15 men, took control of the company Maniobras Alonso Mireles and stole the 20 containers during 7-10 hours without authorities being alerted, reported Reforma. The theft was first reported on June 5, 2022 by Proceso. However, FGE had not confirmed an investigation on the theft, which is considered to be the largest in the last years, until this weekend.

Criminals checked the containers and chose 20 to steal, “so they proceeded to mount them on tractor-trailer platforms to take them out of the company’s yard and move them to a nearby place,” reported Reforma. Colima’s FGE, the Ministry of Defense (SEDENA), SEMAR and the National Guard are in charge of the investigations.

The robbery of containers arriving at the Port of Manzanillo has been taking place during the past several years, reported Proceso. In March 2021, during the biweekly meeting of the Manzanillo Control Group, headed by SEMAR and made up by different federal agencies, it was agreed to place special attention on solving this problem, which affects carriers and business in the region and Mexico.

"This crime, which causes millionaire losses every year, has become the spur for many Mexican businessmen. Grupo Control Manzanillo has analyzed the problem, offering to take part in the fight against this activity within the scope of action of the commercial port of Colima," said the Port of Manzanillo through a press release.

In 2019, a decree mandated that the segments of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) in charge of Federal Port Administrations be operated under SEMAR. However, it was not a militarization of Mexico’s port infrastructure, said to MBN Elizabeth García, Director of Coordinating Directorate for the Evaluation of ASIPONA Management, SEMAR: “A large segment of its originally civilian core administration was kept intact. Our office is a great example of that, as most of our teams retain their original composition.”