The recent implication of the Air Force of Chile in the protection of a drug expedition sparked an unprecedented corruption scandal in the South American nation, raising questions on institutional resilience which had so far stifled the spread of organized crime.
On July 15, a judge ordered the pre -trial detention of five Chilean airmen accused of transporting 4 kilograms of smuggling ketamine from the Iquic Cordore air base, the regional capital of Tarapacá in northern Chile.
They are accused of having taken advantage of their positions within force to coordinate at least three other medication expeditions in 2025, according to the Regional prosecutor in Tarapacá. They would have used official planes that went from the north of the country to the Metropolitan region of Santiago, the capital.
Ketamine is a Anesthetic drug Often used in the veterinary field that Chile criminal groups have also used to produce “tuti», A synthetic drug also known as pink cocaine. The authorities sounded the alarm on this substance after an increase in crises in the northern part of Chile and the role of transnational crime groups in its production and traffic.
See also: Ketamine traffic increases in the flourishing synthetic drugs in Chile
In addition to the case involving the Airforce, seven not ordered military officers were arrested in June 2025 in Iqique. The group would have tracked 161 kilograms of cocaine and 30 kilograms of cocaine in Bolivia trucks.
However, it was not the first drug expedition transported by members of the armed forces. The corrupt network of soldiers worked for at least last year and moved to 10 medication expeditions that had crossed the northern border of Chile, said Trinidad Steinert, regional prosecutor in Tarapacá, Radio Universo.
Beyond their involvement in drug trafficking networks, other members of the armed forces and the police were involved in everything, from arms trafficking to extortion. In 2022, the soldiers and the police stole official weapons and sold them to criminal groups in northern Chile. Later, in 2024, more than a dozen police officers were accused of having extorted the Bolivian truck drivers as they crossed the border.
An analysis of insightful crime
While Chile was considered a story of success relative in its fight against organized crime, its geographic proximity to the best cocaine producing countries in Latin America and the failures of militarization in the North have undermined its institutional strength.
The country's geographic and logistical conditions are attractive for transnational criminal groups. Its borders with Peru and Bolivia – two of the best cocaine producers – as well as its modern port infrastructure and its access to the Pacific Ocean, make it a perfect launch for drug shipments sent to international markets.
The region of northern Chile is also found along a key migration route. Criminal groups like Tren of AraguaThe most notorious gang in Venezuela, capitalized on These irregular flows in places like Tarapacá, Arica and Antofagasta to expand their operations and exploit the vulnerabilities of those who cross the border.
See also: Chile militates the drug war, ignoring a dangerous regional precedent
In response, the Chilean government relied on a militarized strategy to try to mitigate the irregular migration and the expansion of foreign criminal groups.
However, this approach was strongly criticized For its limited efficiency and the risk of official corruption. A number of academics and international organizations have warned that the country's institutions are not ready to face such a complex dynamic such as transnational organized crime. In fact, their involvement can rather exacerbate the problem, as in other countries in the region.
“The armed forces are formed for a war scenario. But in our country, organized crime does not necessarily mean a war scenario,” Pablo Zeballos, former police officer and security consultant told Insight.
In contrast to countries like Mexico, Colombia or Brazil, which have a long story of soldiers co -opted by criminal groups And drawn in their ranks, there is always a positive perception of security forces in Chile and they always have the ability to slow the progress of organized crime groups.
According to Zeballos, previous surveys on corrupt security forces in Chile had a lot to do with their internal capacity to detect the problem. “The work of the two institutions has caught recognized and addressed warning signs,” he said.
Featured image: Security forces in Chile were involved in a recent corruption scandal. Credit: Chilean police
