A police sergeant dubbed ‘The Mummy’ has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating a multi-million-pound Brink’s robbery.
Claudia Bustamante is accused of being one of the gang’s ringleaders in the armed robbery of a Brink’s cash vault in August 2024.
The organisation, consisting of around 30 members, reportedly made off with £9.3m (CLP 11 billion).
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Only about £157,977 (CLP 186 million) has been recovered by the authorities so far.
Bustamante, known by her alias ‘La Mami’ – which translates as The Mummy – was arrested for her alleged involvement in the robbery last Thursday (22 Jan).
She denies any wrongdoing.
The 47-year-old, who has been with the police force for 29 years, held the rank of second sergeant until her recent dismissal.
She worked at the Diego Portales Sub-Police Station in Rancagua in Chile, a position that gave her access to privileged information.
She is suspected of recruiting and organising five police officers who have since been arrested for their part in the heist.
A senior gang member named Jaime Beltrán was arrested on the day of the robbery.
He is believed to have reported Bustamante to the authorities and provided evidence of her alleged involvement.
His lawyer María Paz Aguilera said: “On many occasions, people don’t take part in these situations using their real names.
“Everyone knows this official was known by the nickname ‘La Mami’.
“In fact, all the defendants I’ve interviewed recognise her by that name; almost none of them knew her real name.”
Bustamante’s lawyer Leonardo Díaz said: “She denies any involvement.
“She doesn’t even know the co-defendants, except for those who are police officers.
“She doesn’t know any of the civilian co-defendants who are linked to the case.”
Bustamante’s ‘double life’ is apparently not only limited to the Brinks robbery.
She is also suspected of being involved in the foiled robbery of Prosegur security vault in February 2024.
The police discovered a 15-metre tunnel into a vault with £20.4m (CLP 24 billion), as reported by NeedToKnow.
The operation led to the arrest of 10 suspects.
Prosecutor Carlos Fuentes said: “Prosegur was the investigation where the initial background information emerged, but we didn’t have anything concrete then.
“Later, when it was revealed that there was the involvement of several police officers in the Brink’s case and the first five officers were arrested, it became clearer that there was someone leading this group of officers, and that person was the now former sergeant who was brought before a judge for detention.
“They were promised a reward for participating. They organised themselves, established shifts, what they had to do, and what the escape routes were.
“There are people who are involved in both crimes.”
Bustamante is being held at Rancagua Prison as the cases continue.
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