Carabinieri Foil Armoured Van Heist in South Italy: 2 Arrested After Shootout

A heavily armed commando attempted a brazen robbery of a BTV armored cash-in-transit van on the SS 613 highway (Brindisi–Lecce superstrada) near the Tuturano exit in Brindisi municipality this morning.

The attack, executed in broad daylight, ultimately failed – no cash was stolen, no injuries were reported, and two suspects are already in custody.

The targeted vehicle belonged to BTV, part of the Battistolli Group, a major Italian private security firm specializing in cash transportation. According to initial reconstructions from Carabinieri investigators and eyewitness accounts, the gang – estimated at 6 to 10 members – used military-style tactics shortly after dawn.

The robbers blocked the roadway toward Lecce by positioning at least one heavy vehicle (a lorry or truck) transversely across the carriageway and setting it ablaze, creating a wall of flames and thick black smoke that forced traffic, including the armored van, to halt. Some attackers reportedly posed as law enforcement officers, using vehicles equipped with blue flashing lights to simulate a police checkpoint and further confuse drivers.

Once the convoy was stopped, the assailants – masked and dressed in white protective suits or overalls – opened fire with automatic weapons, including Kalashnikov-style rifles, and detonated explosives against the armored van in an attempt to breach its secure compartments. Bystander videos circulating on social media captured the chaos: intense gunfire, explosions rocking the vehicle, clouds of smoke engulfing the scene, and figures scrambling amid the burning barricade and flashing emergency lights.

The security van’s built-in anti-theft defenses, including an automatic foam-dispensing system that seals cash containers, appear to have activated successfully, preventing the gang from accessing any funds. The robbery was thus rendered fruitless despite the elaborate preparation.

Responding Carabinieri patrols quickly arrived, leading to an immediate exchange of gunfire with the fleeing suspects. During the ensuing chase — extending into nearby areas such as Squinzano, Campi Salentina, Guagnano, and San Donaci in northern Salento — officers pursued the gang members, who reportedly carjacked at least one civilian vehicle to aid their escape. One police vehicle’s windshield was shattered by bullets, but no officers, security guards, or civilians suffered injuries.

By early afternoon, the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Lecce announced the detention of two suspects, both originating from the province of Foggia (a region long associated with organized groups specializing in armored vehicle heists). The men were stopped in an Alfa Romeo Stelvio and placed under police custody for further questioning. Several other gang members remain at large, prompting an ongoing manhunt involving multiple units.

The SS 613 was temporarily closed in both directions between approximately km 8.3 and km 12.8 near San Pietro Vernotico while firefighters extinguished the burning vehicles, forensic teams processed the site, and traffic was diverted via nearby routes like Torchiarolo.

Puglia has seen a persistent pattern of such violent “assalti ai portavalori” (armored van attacks) in recent years, often targeting routes linking major cities and logistical hubs. According to data from the Italian private security association Savip, the region ranked among the most affected in Italy between 2019 and 2023, with successful heists yielding millions of euros — though many attempts, like today’s, have been foiled by rapid law enforcement response or vehicle security features.

Investigations continue to determine possible links to known organized crime networks in the area. Authorities have not yet released an official estimate of any potential intended haul, but similar operations in Puglia have targeted sums ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million euros.

This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of combating heavily armed, professional robbery gangs in southern Italy, even as security measures for cash-in-transit operations continue to evolve. Updates are expected as more details emerge from the ongoing probe.