Banks are the target of a mega-robbery in Paraguay in an orchestrated action involving more than 20 criminals More than 20 armed criminals attacked three financial institutions and an exchange office in the early hours of Tuesday (16), in Santa Rita, Paraguay. According to the Paraguayan police, the group used explosives, captured police officers and employees and fled after setting vehicles on fire and spreading miguelitos - traps made with twisted nails or sharp metal bars - across the streets to make pursuit difficult. Santa Rita is about 70 kilometers from Foz do Iguaçu, on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, and has a strong presence of Brazilians and descendants who live or own rural properties in the region. The case is investigated by the Paraguayan authorities, who are investigating the possible participation of Brazilians in the action. According to the head of the Tripartite Command, Carlos Alberto Dure Rios, witnesses reported hearing members of the gang speaking Portuguese during the robbery. "These are people who work in Paraguay, Brazilians together with Paraguayans to carry out this type of action. Some live in Paraguay. There were around 20 people. We still don't have precision on how much was stolen, but there are millions of Guaranis", he stated. According to Dure, two Paraguayans involved in the robbery were identified. However, until the last update of this report, no one had been arrested. ✅ Follow g1 Foz do Iguaçu on WhatsApp According to information gathered by RPC, a TV Globo affiliate in Paraná, this is considered the second biggest robbery in the history of Paraguay. Armed criminals rob banks in Paraguay National Police According to the Paraguayan National Police, the attack began around 2 am. Four police officers patrolling the region were surrounded and captured by criminals. One of the agents had his weapon and a company rifle stolen. The other three managed to leave the vehicle and take shelter on the side of the highway, where shots were exchanged. The criminals used explosives to attack the branches of Banco Familiar and Banco GNB, located side by side in the central area of ​​the city. The group also invaded a unit of Banco Ueno, where employees and a security guard were captured. The agencies were destroyed. See the video above. The gang also entered the Santa Rita Exchange House. At the scene, police found an explosive that did not detonate. According to initial investigations, no amount was taken from the exchange office or Banco Ueno. Bank branches were destroyed National Police During their escape, the assailants set fire to two vehicles, one at each entrance to the city, and spread fireworks along the roads to prevent the security forces from advancing. So far, authorities have not disclosed the amount stolen. The loss is estimated to be millions of guaranis. The National Police of Paraguay issued a capture alert for teams from Alto Paraná, Caazapá, Caaguazú and Itapúa. Investigative, criminalistics teams and the Public Ministry participate in the searches. Also read: Homicide: 14-year-old teenager is found dead and half-naked in a forest area in Paraná Cousins missing for more than a month: police search in new city Hit by branch in Curitiba: 22-year-old suffers serious injuries VIDEOS: Most watched on g1 Paraná Read more news on g1 Oeste and Sudoeste.