MIAMI (WSVN) - Five suspected thieves accused of stealing 23,000 iPhones at Miami International Airport have been taken into custody.

The FBI arrested the group on Monday in connection to the April 2 theft. They were identified as 37-year-old Misael Cabrera, 42-year-old Eloy Garcia, 45-year-old Rasiel Perez, 33-year-old Yoan Perez and 36-year-old Rodolfo Urra.

Officials said the total estimated value of the smartphones they allegedly stole is nearly $7 million.

The suspects are facing charges of conspiracy to possess stolen goods, as well as a slew of federal charges. If convicted, they could be facing five to 10 years in prison.

Investigators said the group stole the iPhones from the LAN Cargo facility at MIA. When it all went down, they allegedly asked a man to help out in the theft, not realizing he was an informant for Miami-Dade Police.

Detectives said the thieves had the informant drive a cargo truck to the airport to pick up the shipment, and then back to the Home Depot where another accomplice, identified as Yojani Carballosa, was waiting.

The iPhones were originally headed for South and Central America.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join our Newsletter for the latest news right to your inbox