Chile’s Comptroller General (CGR) uncovered severe security lapses at five penal facilities in the Aysén region during a surprise, simultaneous inspection conducted over the weekend. According to the outlet La Tercera, the audit revealed that during the night of May 30 and the early morning of May 31, security protocols were ignored, leaving facilities vulnerable.
Regional Comptroller Ricardo Hevia led the operation, which took place between 10:00 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. Upon arriving at the Coyhaique Provisional Internment and Closed Regime Center (CIP-CRC), inspectors found the main vehicle and pedestrian gate standing completely open with the security barrier raised.
More concerning to investigators was the lack of oversight at the entrance. The guard booth, intended to control access to the facility, sat empty with no Gendarmería personnel present to monitor the perimeter.
According to the report, this failure is a recurring issue. The CGR noted that the same security lapse was identified during a previous audit in March 2025, yet prison authorities failed to implement the necessary corrective measures since that time.
Nationwide audit reveals systemic oversight
The inspection in Aysén is part of a broader national audit plan currently reviewing 70 penal facilities across Chile. The CGR is focusing specifically on security protocols, the control of contraband, the seizure of illicit substances, and the verification of staff work schedules.
In response to the findings, the Comptroller’s office has officially notified the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. The agency is demanding the immediate opening of administrative investigations and the implementation of urgent security measures to mitigate the risks identified at the sites.
The audit also covered the Coyhaique Penitentiary Compliance Center, the Special Penitentiary Services Unit, and both the Preventive Detention Center and the Valle Verde Study and Work Center in Puerto Aysén.
Beyond immediate physical security, the CGR is reviewing the status of long-standing administrative files within Gendarmería. Many of these internal investigations, which involve incidents such as inmate escapes and drug consumption within prisons, have remained unresolved for years and are now at risk of expiring.
The CGR confirmed that audits in the Aysén region remain ongoing. Officials expect to continue reviewing internal procedures and facility operations in the coming weeks.
