Masked men stole 70 gold bars from fishing boat in Curacao

The “Summer Bliss” fishing boat sits docked at the Willemstad port in Curacao, on Nov. 30. Masked men in jackets emblazoned with the word “police” boarded the “Summer Bliss” in an early morning assault on Friday and stole 70 gold bars worth an estimated $11.5 million, police spokesman Reggie Huggins said.

worldnews.nbcnews.com / By Karen Attiah, The Associated Press / November 30, 2012

Masked men in jackets emblazoned with the word “police” boarded a fishing boat Friday in Curacao and stole 70 gold bars worth an estimated $11.5 million, officials in the southern Caribbean island said.

The boat’s captain was struck in the head in the early-morning assault before the thieves made off with the gold in three cars, police spokesman Reggie Huggins said. Authorities believe there were at least six men involved in the heist. No suspects were in custody.

Huggins declined to say who owned the approximately 476 pounds of gold but he said it was a legal shipment that was being trans-shipped through Curacao and officials in the island had been advised in advance that it was coming as part of normal security protocols. He declined to disclose the eventual destination of the metal.

“Authorities knew of the shipment because the official procedure was followed,” the spokesman said.

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