Two men accused of being part of an international robbery group which netted $770,000 worth of jewellery were remanded in custody when they appeared in Auckland District Court this morning.
Cesar Orlando Romero, 43, a native of Colombia, and Javier Espinosa Agreda, 26, whose country was not listed on charge sheets, appeared in Auckland District Court today via audio-visual link from Auckland Remand Prison.
Both face charges of being part of an organised criminal group conspiring to commit aggravated robbery. Romero is also charged with possession of a fake United States passport.
Their lawyer, Paul Tomlinson, did not make a bail application and they were remanded in custody until June 24.
Three women - Maria Teresa Martinez, 47, and two Colombian women who have yet to be named - were also scheduled to appear today.
Two other alleged members of the group, Juan Leal Casillas and Jose Roberto Jimenez Perez, are still at large.
Their alleged victims were dealers from Australia and Asia who were in New Zealand to buy and sell jewellery.
One dealer from Sydney was robbed of jewellery worth $110,000 in suburban Parnell on May 2.
Two other international dealers were robbed of more than $600,000 in gems outside Rydges Hotel in Auckland's CBD on May 17.
Most of the stolen jewellery has been recovered.
