A joint operation by authorities from Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru seized 426 kilos of Colombian-grown “cripy” marijuana and broke up a Colombian gang planning to sell it in Santiago.[1] Three Colombians were captured during the operation, including the alleged leader of the trafficking organization.[1] On the afternoon of 11 March the Colombian leader, nicknamed “Tío Chilo”, contacted the driver to arrange delivery of the drug.[2] At about 20:00 the suspects arrived at the agreed handover point at Llano Subercaseaux and Carlos Valdovinos in San Miguel, took the truck and the drug, and were arrested.[2] Two of the three detained Colombians had irregular immigration status in Chile.[2] Those detained were formally charged for violating the drug law.[3] Those detained were placed under pretrial detention.[3]

Police found the load in a truck that had come from Colombia and entered Chile through the northern city of Arica.[1] Police in Ecuador and Peru monitored the truck as it moved through those countries in a relay.[2] The 426 kilos were hidden in a false bottom of the truck and were destined for Santiago.[2] The load comprised 400 packages of “cripy” marijuana with five times the THC of common marijuana.[2] The seizure was valued at about US$9 million and described as the largest seizure of this strain recorded in Chile.[1]

The international operation “Pacífico Sur” brought together the OS-7 unit, the police of Ecuador and Peru and the anti-narcotics prosecutor’s office.[2] Chile’s anti-drug prosecutor directed the operation while OS-7 agents followed the recipients and tapped phones.[2] Prosecutors said the drug’s strength and price were comparable to high-purity cocaine.[3] Prosecutors called it one of the largest drug seizures in the southern prosecutor’s office’s experience.[3]