Armed gold robbery in Surco, Lima injures driver and steals bullion

An armed group intercepted a vehicle on Avenida El Derby in Santiago de Surco, Lima, around 5:30 a.m., forcing the driver to stop and opening fire. The driver, César Augusto Espinoza Hernández, was wounded in the right arm, and the thieves stole a backpack containing gold bullion. Police recovered 27 shell casings but found no surveillance footage of the attack. The co‑driver, referred to only as “Urbano,” remains missing.

This incident is the second gold robbery in Lima within four months. A similar heist on 22 March occurred at Costa Verde in the San Miguel district and was captured on camera. Authorities suspect the perpetrators are linked to criminal groups from Callao, and note a pattern of recent violent crimes in the city, including robberies of a currency exchange kiosk and an arms shop.