Costa Rica is investigating the theft of 3.3 billion colones ($6.1 million) in cash from its national bank, the biggest bank robbery in the country’s history, anti-corruption authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The money was noticed missing from bank vaults three weeks ago, but the robbery itself must have taken place in August or earlier, said Jaime Murillo, interim director of Costa Rica’s Banco Nacional.
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Two area supervisors, a technician, a security guard and an accountant — all of whom worked in the area of the bank that handles foreign exchange — are under investigation. All five were suspended with pay once the theft was discovered on Oct. 3. No one has been arrested.
The national flag of Costa Rica flies in front of the headquarters of Banco Nacional, San Jose, Costa Rica, Friday, August 12, 2022. (Camilo Freedman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Murillo told a news conference that the bank had been investigating the theft privately, but that national prosecutors took over the case after details were leaked to the press and the bank filed a formal complaint.
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Authorities have not released details on how the theft took place.
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State-owned Banco Nacional is the largest financial institution in Costa Rica.
