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The largest cash heists that are still unsolved to this day are more than just crimes they are modern legends. These heists involved extraordinary sums of money, strategic planning, and in many cases, a complete vanishing act by the criminals involved. Despite extensive investigations, arrests, and surveillance advancements, billions have disappeared without a trace. Hereโs a deep dive into each case and what makes them so remarkable.
1. Central Bank of Iraq $1.6 Billion Stolen March 18, 2003

As the United States prepared to invade Iraq in March 2003, one of the most stunning acts of pre-war looting took place. At the direction of Saddam Hussein himself, an estimated $1 billion in U.S. banknotes was withdrawn from the Central Bank of Iraq by his son Qusay Hussein. It was reportedly loaded into trucks during the night and vanished from public record.
The act was technically legal at the time due to Saddamโs authoritarian control, but when his regime fell just weeks later, international officials labeled it a heist. Though some funds were later recovered during raids, the vast majority of the money has never resurfaced. The sheer amount stolen and the context of war makes this the most audacious and unresolved state-level heist in history.
2. Dar Es Salaam Investment Bank $435 Million Stolen July 11, 2007

In Baghdad just four years after the Central Bank heist, three employees from the Dar Es Salaam Investment Bank simply vanished with $435 million in U.S. cash. The suspects fled without violence, and investigators believed the heist involved both insider cooperation and high-level political protection.
International arrest warrants were issued but little progress was made. It is suspected the money was transferred out of Iraq via black market networks. Despite the staggering scale, the operation went unnoticed until it was too late, and the masterminds remain unidentified.
3. British Bank of the Middle East $281 Million Stolen January 20, 1976

Set during the chaos of the Lebanese Civil War, this heist involved a group of armed Palestinian militants affiliated with the PLO. Using explosives, they blasted into the British Bank of the Middle Eastโs main vault in Beirut, stealing gold bars, cash, stocks, and jewelry worth $25 million at the time, adjusted today to over $280 million.
They used the adjacent Catholic church to tunnel into the bank. What followed was a 48-hour operation in which the robbers worked undisturbed. The stolen goods were allegedly funneled through Switzerland and Eastern Europe. Not a single suspect was formally tried, and much of the loot remains unrecovered.
4. Banco Central, Fortaleza $115 Million Stolen August 6, 2005

Perhaps the most cinematic heist on the list, a gang in Brazil spent three months digging a tunnel under the Banco Central branch in Fortaleza. The tunnel spanned 78 meters and had lighting, ventilation, and reinforced walls. On a quiet weekend, they broke through the floor of the vault and removed 3.5 tons of Brazilian reals, totaling $115 million.
Though 27 suspects were eventually arrested, only a small portion of the money was recovered. The heist demonstrated extreme precision, planning, and patience, making it one of the most iconic unsolved crimes in Latin America.
5. Northern Bank $85 Million Stolen December 20, 2004

This Belfast-based robbery involved the abduction of two Northern Bank executives and their families by armed men posing as police officers. The staff were forced to let the robbers into the bankโs secure vaults, where ยฃ26.5 million (approximately $85 million USD) was taken.
The heist was so sophisticated that police suspected involvement by the Irish Republican Army, though this was never conclusively proven. The money was laundered into various property deals, but most of it remains missing, and no major convictions have ever been secured.
6. GardaWorld Cash Depot $31 Million Stolen March 31, 2024

In one of the most recent heists, thieves made off with $31 million in cash from a GardaWorld depot in Los Angeles. Despite the facility being heavily guarded and under surveillance, the thieves gained entry without tripping any alarms. Investigators are baffled by the professional nature of the break-in.
As of now, very little is known about how the robbery was executed. Authorities suspect it was an inside job and are pursuing multiple leads, but no suspects have been named publicly. The operation shows how vulnerable even modern armored facilities can be when precise intelligence and timing are involved.
7. Wells Fargo Depot Robbery โ $22 Million Stolen โ September 12, 1983

This inside job saw Victor Gerena, a security guard in Connecticut, overpower two coworkers and flee with $7 million in cash from a Wells Fargo depot. Investigations tied the robbery to the Puerto Rican nationalist group Los Macheteros, who allegedly helped Gerena escape the country.
Despite being placed on the FBIโs Most Wanted list, Gerena was never captured and remains at large to this day. The heistโs political undertones and Gerenaโs vanishing act make it one of the most fascinating unsolved thefts in U.S. history.
8. Plymouth Mail Truck Robbery โ $16 Million Stolen โ August 14, 1962

Before armored trucks and digital banking, this mail truck robbery in Plymouth, Massachusetts, rocked the country. A U.S. Mail truck carrying $1.5 million in cash and checks to the Federal Reserve Bank was intercepted and emptied by a group of men impersonating police officers.
Despite extensive FBI investigations and a media frenzy, the case remains unsolved. Itโs widely believed the robbers had insider knowledge and a carefully planned escape strategy. The cash was never recovered, and no convictions were ever made.
Each of these heists shares a key trait despite their size and visibility, they remain unresolved. These stories arenโt just about stolen money; they are puzzles that outsmarted the system and left law enforcement chasing ghosts. The largest cash heists that are still unsolved to this day remind us of the delicate line between criminal ingenuity and chaos.
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