Officers from the Carabineros' OS7 unit arrested 11 individuals and seized approximately 400 kilograms of various illegal substances during two operations in the Antofagasta Region. The raids, conducted in coordination with the Regional Prosecutor's Office, dismantled gangs involved in drug trafficking and storage in the northern part of the country.
The first operation took place on Route 25, where officers from the OS7 El Loa unit detected a new concealment method. The drugs were hidden inside metal structures designed to look like vehicle spare parts inside an intercity bus.
Following the discovery, investigations expanded to the cities of La Serena and Ovalle. In these locations, police made six arrests and seized more than 10 kilograms of cocaine paste, cocaine hydrochloride, and ketamine, as well as a firearm and ammunition.
Dismantling a Storage Network
In a second operation, carried out by the OS7 Antofagasta unit and the SACFI Prosecutor's Office, police intercepted a criminal group dedicated to transporting marijuana from the Pampa region to other parts of the country. The operation resulted in five arrests and the seizure of 384 kilograms of marijuana.
During this second deployment, police also seized three vehicles, one of which had an active theft report. Cristian Montre, head of the Antofagasta Carabineros Zone, stated that both procedures were "primarily aimed at combating organized crime."
Antofagasta Regional Prosecutor Juan Castro Bekios highlighted the importance of drug-sniffing dogs and their handlers in identifying substances hidden within the metal parts. The prosecutor also revealed an alarming figure regarding drug trafficking in the area.
"In terms of total drugs seized, there has been a 304% increase across all types of narcotics," Castro Bekios stated, comparing the current period to 2025. The prosecutor noted that in just over three months, the region has already seized more than 21 tons of illegal substances, surpassing the total recorded for the entire year of 2024.