Paraguay's National Police announced on Wednesday the arrest of three men identified as members of the so-called 'Rolex gang,' responsible for a series of luxury watch thefts in Asunción. Commissioner Wilfrido Maldonado, head of Investigations in the capital, detailed the group's modus operandi during a press conference.
According to Maldonado, the suspects monitored potential victims at locations such as the international airport and shopping centers. 'One of them takes a photo of the person's arm wearing the watch and alerts accomplices outside. From there, they begin following and, in some cases, simulate a traffic accident: they hit the rear of the car, and when the driver gets out, they approach with violence to steal the Rolex,' he explained.
The investigations began after three consecutive reports, including that of former senator Armando Vicente Espínola Wiezell, who was robbed a few meters from his residence in the capital. His Rolex was taken.
Those detained are two Paraguayans and one Venezuelan. The police do not rule out the participation of Colombians in the group, which would operate in 'cells.' During searches, two vehicles and a firearm were seized. The foreign detainee denied involvement: 'I am not guilty of anything, I did not rob anyone. I am not looking for luxury watches. I do not appear in any images,' he said briefly to the press.
Maldonado stated that the investigation is ongoing and that new evidence is being analyzed.