Chile’s investigative police (PDI) arrested four people and seized 5.2 kg of cannabis in Copiapó in an operation with the Atacama prosecutor’s SAC unit against an alleged trafficking ring.[1] The operation was carried out in the Ampliación Prat sector of Copiapó, where the four were detained.[1] Three of the detainees are Colombian and one is Chilean, and one of the Colombians was in Chile irregularly.[2]

The head of the Copiapó anti-drug brigade, subprefect José Villablanca, said the group brought large amounts of drugs from Calama and distributed them in Copiapó and Caldera through social media.[2] The police work also established the points where the drug was sold, he said.[1] Villablanca said the 5.2 kg had an informal sale value of about 38 million pesos.[1] Detectives also seized the vehicle used to sell the drug, ammunition and cash.[1]

The four were formally charged at a hearing on Thursday 29 October 2026.[2] Copiapó prosecutor Marcelo Torres Rossel presented the evidence at the hearing.[1] The four were told they were being investigated for completed illicit drug trafficking.[1] Torres said the group acted in coordination to sell and distribute the drug.[1] The court granted pretrial detention and ordered all four to a prison while the investigation continues.[3]