Four arrested in Argentina smuggling over a tonne of meteorites

Police nabbed four alleged smugglers in Argentina trying to steal more than a tonne of protected meteorites, authorities said Saturday. Three Argentine nationals and a Paraguayan were arrested for the unusual attempted heist near General Pinedo, in the northern Argentine province of Chaco, national police said. Police said they found 215 large chunks of meteorites during a random truck stop, stashed under the seats of the vehicle. One area of Chaco, Campo del Cielo (Heavenly Field), got pelted by a major meteor shower some 4,000 years ago, scientists say.

The information we have is minimal and preliminary. We are interested in the case because it concerns public property belonging to people from Chaco, Argentinians and all of humanity.

State minister Javier Oteo

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