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Eight people arrested in Paraguay heist

Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian police on Tuesday said eight people had been detained after a heist at a security company across the border in Paraguay dubbed "the robbery of the century".

The police in Parana state displayed a haul of dollars and other currencies in plastic bags, as well as a powerful automatic rifle.

They said in total six assault rifles were captured, along with ammunition, two boats and seven vehicles. However, there was no immediate word on how much money was recovered from the raid on Monday which could have netted up to $40m.

In addition to the eight suspects in custody, three other men were killed during a shootout as the Brazilian gangsters retreated back across the border, officials in both countries said.

As many as 50 people were reported by police to have participated in the attack. They included members of First Capital Command, one of Brazil's most powerful drug gangs, which is based in Sao Paulo and has fought turf battles in Rio de Janeiro and across the country's prison system.

Shocked Paraguayan officials said it was an unprecedented incident for Ciudad del Este, a trading hub near the borders of Brazil and Argentina in an area linked to drug gangs.


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