Gold ingots found in toilet tank during Caleta Olivia raids

The Prefectura Naval Argentina has seized four gold ingots, weighing over 2.5 kilograms, hidden inside the water tank of a disused toilet in Caleta Olivia, Santa Cruz. The discovery occurred during raids on two properties as part of a judicial investigation into the disappearance of a man, Mario César García, who went missing in December 2025.

The total value of the seized items, which includes the gold, a vehicle, mobile phones, a DVR, and ballistic evidence such as 38 spent casings, is estimated to exceed 1.2 billion Argentine pesos. During the operations, several individuals were identified, including three adults at the first location and two adults and two minors at the second.

Investigators are also exploring a potential link between the seized gold and a 2023 robbery at the Patagonia Gold mining facility. Authorities are working to establish the traceability of the metal to determine if it originates from that previous incident.