Chile seizes more than 1,000 tonnes of drugs hidden in timber with aid of detection dogs
Chilean authorities announced a record seizure of more than 1,000 tonnes of drugs concealed in timber shipments destined for Europe, in an operation they described as a historic blow against organised crime.
Chile seizes more than 1,000 tonnes of drugs hidden in timber with aid of detection dogs
More than 1,000 tonnes of drugs concealed in timber shipments were confiscated by Chilean authorities in an operation they described as historic for the South American country. The seizure, announced on Monday, followed a six-month investigation that identified 45 containers originating from Bolivia.
According to a statement from the National Customs Authority, the seized substances—primarily cocaine and ketamine—had an estimated value of 8.3 billion dollars on the European market. Vice Admiral Arturo Oxley highlighted the scale of the seizure by stating that it is equivalent to "100 years of our budget".
The adulterated timber shipments were destined for more than a dozen international markets, including the United States. Authorities indicated that had the drugs reached their destination, they would have required "advanced chemical processes" in specialised laboratories for their extraction.
Canine units and "special technologies" were fundamental to discovering the illicit cargo, according to the customs agency. The national director of Customs, Alejandra Arriaza, highlighted the work of the canine units and the ongoing training of personnel as key elements in achieving this result.
The operation involved the joint participation of the public prosecutor's office, the maritime police and the customs service. The total amount of drugs seized could increase as additional containers generating suspicion are examined.
Source: CBS News
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)