A Bolivian truck was transporting more than $4.237 million pesos (USD 5,2 million) worth of cocaine paste when it was intercepted by inspectors from the National Customs Service at the Quillagua outpost. The successful procedure, which took place in a primary area and therefore did not involve any police, prevented the transport of 301 kilos 800 grams of cocaine paste that was hidden in four cylinders that simulated fuel tanks.
The Regional Director of the Iquique Customs, Cristian Molina Silva, explained that based on the powers of his Service and through the use of risk profiles and non-invasive technology, “Our inspectors selected a Bolivian truck traveling from the north to Santiago for a special inspection. In this way, and through X-ray images, the initial suspicions were confirmed and it was established that the truck was modified and had contraband.".
After interpreting the X-rays from the Customs scanner truck, the prosecutors began an intervention process and, using mechanical and hydraulic tools, cut and moved four metal cylinders that simulated tanks, finding inside 301 kilos 800 grams of cocaine paste that was inserted in liquid form and later solidified.
Molina Silva explained that by virtue of the powers, competences and technology available to Customs, the operational teams deployed at the Quillagua and El Loa outposts detect countless cases of smuggling of legal and illegal goods, among which the large detection of drugs stands out. In fact, due to the large volume of defendants and drugs, the Public Prosecutor's Office assigns one of the police forces on duty every month to collect detainees and drugs from the outposts to the courts.
The arrest of the truck driver carrying 301 kilos of cocaine paste was carried out at the Court of First Instance and Guarantee of Pozo Almonte and was carried out by prosecutor Sergio Almonacid Muñoz, who charged the Bolivian driver WQM with the crime of drug trafficking as the perpetrator.
In the instance, the prosecutor described the customs procedure that allowed the detection and discovery of the drug, after which the magistrate Daniela Gutiérrez Albornoz decreed the arrest in accordance with the law and ruled to leave the accused in preventive detention for the 120 days that were set as the investigation period.
During 2021, the Iquique Customs Office has seized 2.667 kilos of drugs, with the substances with the highest increases being ketamine and cocaine paste.
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