Police seize 60 tonnes of stolen salmon in multi region operation.
Chilean police have detained 22 people linked to two criminal groups accused of stealing trucks carrying salmon from the Los Lagos region and selling the product at the Terminal Pesquero de Santiago, according to reporting from SoyChile.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of 20 November across the Metropolitan, Valparaíso and Biobío regions, resulted in the seizure of around 60 tonnes of salmon. Officers also confiscated trucks, other vehicles, seven firearms and additional assets following work by the Police of Investigations’ anti–money laundering unit.
Southern Regional Prosecutor Héctor Barros said the case involves two organised structures under investigation for criminal association, armed robbery of seafood cargoes, breaches of fisheries regulations and tax offences.
Marco Ramírez, national head of the Police of Investigations’ robbery and criminal focus division, said the groups targeted trucks transporting salmon from Calbuco and Puerto Montt. The robberies were allegedly carried out using firearms before the cargo was transferred to other vehicles and moved north for sale.
The stolen salmon was reportedly sold through a secondary market at prices “much lower” than normal levels at the Terminal Pesquero de Santiago.
