A cargo-sector worker at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez airport was detained after sharing marijuana gummies with seven coworkers, who suffered intoxication during their shift.[1][2] The incident occurred in the airport cargo sector in the commune of Pudahuel, where the coworkers began suffering dizziness, nausea and vomiting after eating the sweets.[1] The affected workers were taken to the Hospital del Trabajador for care, while one of them had to be treated at the Hospital Félix Bulnes because of the seriousness of his condition.[1][2] One of those affected had to be hospitalized in serious condition, intubated and under induced coma.[1][2]

During the operation officers seized four gummies and a chocolate that were sent to the Public Health Institute to determine their composition.[1][2] Preliminary tests identified THC, the main psychoactive component of cannabis, while investigators also sought to establish whether the products contained other substances.[1] The suspect was identified as Ignacio Huerta, 25, who worked in the airport cargo area.[1] During the Friday hearing, the Western Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office attributed eight offences to him: two linked to drug legislation and six related to negligent injuries of varying seriousness.[1][2]

Santiago’s First Guarantee Court ordered total house arrest, a ban on approaching the victims and a national travel ban.[1] The prosecution immediately appealed to seek preventive prison, so the accused was to remain detained in the Santiago 1 prison until the Court of Appeals decided the appeal.[1] The prosecution maintained that the accused had bought the products in a specialised shop, while his defender María Eugenia Pérez said the gummies had fallen from a suitcase and that he picked them up before sharing them, without intending to harm his coworkers.[1] The judicial investigation has an initial period of 120 days.[1] The prosecutor’s office said the accused brought the gummy from his own home, following a purchase at a grow shop, and supplied it to his coworkers.[3]

During the afternoon of that Tuesday, a report was received at the 27th Pudahuel Carabineros station about an airport official having supplied around seven workmates with gummies with a high THC content.[4]

The other six affected workers received medical care and were later discharged.[2]