Authorities in the Antofagasta Region reported a 304% increase in drug seizures so far this year, amid operations that also uncovered attempts to sabotage the northern border to facilitate smuggling.
Antofagasta Regional Prosecutor Juan Castro Bekios reported that drug seizures in the area have exceeded 21.7 tons this year. According to the prosecutor, this increase compared to the same period last year reflects an intensified crackdown on drug trafficking.
Recent operations by Carabineros led to the seizure of 384 kilograms of marijuana, 7 kilograms of cocaine base, 2 kilograms of cocaine, and 2 kilograms of ketamine. In the first operation, near Route B55, police detained five Chilean nationals after intercepting a drug deal involving vehicles traveling with their lights turned off.
A second operation, led by the OS7 El Loa unit, uncovered 7 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride hidden inside a vehicle part. The individuals transporting the drugs were two Bolivian citizens, while the distribution network was dismantled following the arrest of two Venezuelans in La Serena.
Sabotage on the northern border
Alongside the drug seizures, Undersecretary of Security Andrés Jouannet detailed the arrest of two Bolivian nationals at the northern border. The individuals were caught using a backhoe to fill in the three-meter-deep border trench.
According to Jouannet, the goal of this action was to create illegal crossings to allow smuggling vehicles and illicit substances to pass through. The Undersecretary stated that the detainees, who were in the country illegally, “were caught red-handed clearing the ground.”
The official emphasized that this incident “demonstrates the effectiveness” of the trench, as it highlights attempts by third parties to neutralize its containment capabilities. Jouannet explained that border work is “ongoing” and requires constant technology and surveillance, noting that “you can’t just dig a trench and leave it there” due to weather conditions and the actions of criminal groups.
The two Bolivians caught in the sabotage attempt have been handed over to the Prosecutor's Office, while authorities maintain their surveillance strategy to curb illegal migration and the trafficking of drugs and chemical precursors in the region.