In a demonstration of modern policing techniques, Corozal authorities successfully apprehended two robbery suspects within one hour of a daytime heist at the Western Gas Station in the Chula Vista area. The arrest operation, which unfolded on February 23, 2026, combined traditional ground teamwork with advanced aerial surveillance technology.
The incident began when two armed individuals entered the establishment and threatened an attendant into surrendering the day’s proceeds. Following the robbery report, police immediately deployed an investigative team to review available footage while simultaneously mobilizing a joint operational task force to establish perimeter security and create a dragnet around the area.
According to ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer, the strategic implementation of drone technology proved instrumental in tracking the suspects. The aerial surveillance capability enabled officers to locate and arrest thirty-seven-year-old Armando Villanueva and twenty-year-old Jahir Rancharan approximately sixty minutes after the criminal act.
During the apprehension, authorities recovered both the stolen cash and a loaded .38 caliber revolver containing six live rounds of ammunition from Rancharan’s possession. Villanueva was found in custody of items believed to be proceeds from the robbery.
Law enforcement officials are currently conducting ballistic analysis on the confiscated weapon, which may potentially connect the suspects to another security guard robbery incident that occurred late last year. The successful operation highlights the increasing importance of technological integration in contemporary crime prevention and resolution strategies.