Eight crew remanded in custody over salmon theft in Chiloé.
The Regional Prosecutor’s Office of Los Lagos has formalized an investigation against 15 individuals accused of stealing salmon from farm cages south of Chiloé Island, according to Noticias Los Ríos.
The court granted the Public Prosecutor’s request and ordered the pretrial detention of the eight crew members of the vessel involved. The remaining seven defendants, who allegedly provided logistical support to unload the stolen salmon, were placed under nighttime house arrest and other precautionary measures.
Prosecutor Rodrigo Oyarzún, of the Criminal Analysis Unit, said the defendants were charged under Article 137 bis of the General Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture. Two of the accused also face charges of criminal association.
Oyarzún noted that some of the crew had prior convictions for similar offenses, including the theft of around 200 tonnes of salmon from farm cages near Puerto Cisnes.
The court set a 60-day investigation period for the proceedings.
