Inspectors of the National Customs Service seized USD 1,2 million dollars in cash that were being transported on a Bolivian bus bound for Chile through the Colchane Border Complex. The bills, in US currency, were carefully hidden among blankets given to passengers during the trip, wrapped in newspaper and plastic bags, as part of an attempt to avoid detection.
El Regional Director of the Iquique Customs, Cristian Molina Silva, He stressed that this seizure represents the largest seizure of foreign currency in the country since the entry into force of the Law 21.632. This legislation introduced changes to various legal bodies, classifying the entry or withdrawal of money without prior declaration to customs authorities as a smuggling offence.
Molina Silva said that, so far this year, there have been 53 procedures for currency smuggling at the Colchane outpost, with the same number of defendants. These operations have resulted in the seizure of more than USD 2,18 million, in addition to 577 million Chilean pesos and 496 thousand Bolivian pesos. “To these amounts, we must now add one million two hundred thousand dollars, which were accounted for and delivered under chain of custody to Carabineros,” he added.
2 million 18 thousand dollars were seized, to which were added 577 million Chilean pesos and 496 thousand Bolivian pesos. "To these amounts we must now add one million two hundred thousand dollars, which were duly accounted for and delivered, through chain of custody, to Carabineros," he added.
The bus in which the inspectors found the money was travelling from Cochabamba, Bolivia, to Calama, passing through Pozo Almonte and Quillagua. The crew consisted of two drivers and an assistant. The head of the crew admitted that he had received the money as a “package” and that it was his responsibility to deliver it in Chile.
The arrest of those involved will be carried out at the Pozo Almonte Court on Wednesday, according to the Customs statement.
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