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Today in History: Boricua Popular Army steals $7 Million in historic robbery

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 10:33 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

On September 12 1983, the Ejército Popular Boricua—known as Los Macheteros—executed the “Águila Blanca” heist, robbing a Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford, Connecticut, and stealing more than US $7 million, then the largest cash theft in U.S. history; the raid was timed to honor nationalist Pedro Albizu Campos’s birthday.

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Story summary

On September 12 1983, the Ejército Popular Boricua—known as Los Macheteros—executed the “Águila Blanca” heist, robbing a Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford, Connecticut, and stealing more than US $7 million, then the largest cash theft in U.S. history; the raid was timed to honor nationalist Pedro Albizu Campos’s birthday.