Carabineros detained two men in Punta Arenas during the night of Tuesday 3 November 2026 in a procedure that led to microtrafficking charges.[1][2] The two men were identified as driver Marcos Cárdenas Ferrada and passenger Nicolás Aravena Barría.[1] Both were formalized, Chile’s formal charging step, for small-quantity drug trafficking under article 4 of Law 20.000, the drugs law.[1][2]
Officers stopped a basic taxi on Avenida Ignacio Carrera Pinto in front of the San Ignacio condominium at about 20:30 after noticing a strong smell.[1][2] A search of the passenger found two ziploc bags with plant material described as similar to marijuana, plus 3,000 pesos in cash and a mobile phone.[1] A search of the vehicle found a metal container behind the driver’s seat with six more bags of similar material, plus 303,700 pesos and a second mobile phone.[1] Field tests presented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office tested positive for THC.[1] Prosecutors attributed 14 grams and 100 milligrams to Cárdenas Ferrada and 32 grams and 200 milligrams to Aravena Barría, totalling 46.3 grams of marijuana.[1]
After formalization, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested stricter precautionary measures, but the court found partial deprivation of liberty disproportionate to the aims of the proceedings.[1] The court instead ordered fortnightly signing and regional arraigo, meaning both men must sign every two weeks and remain in the region.[1] The Guarantee Court set a 60-day period for the investigation.[1]
The submitted account was published by La Prensa Austral, which reports the seizure as 47 grams and 300 milligrams of marijuana.[2] Radio Magallanes independently reported the same seizure of 47 grams and 300 milligrams of marijuana, 306,700 pesos in cash and two mobile phones from the taxi’s driver and passenger.[3] El Pingüino reported that the First Guarantee Court rejected the prosecutor’s request for overnight house arrest and instead imposed regional arraigo and fortnightly signing at the Primera Comisaría for a 60-day investigation.[4]
