"Barrial closure" of Carabineros leaves 15 detained in El Bosque and San Ramón

A court in Santiago has extended the detention of 72 individuals arrested during a nationwide operation targeting a drug trafficking network operating between Antofagasta and Aysén. The extension, approved by the 4th Criminal Court of Santiago, allows for an additional five days of pre-trial custody under Article 39 of Law 20.000. This brings the total duration of detention to the maximum allowed under current legal provisions. The hearing for the formalization of charges is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at the AM block, though the exact time has yet to be confirmed. The operation, known as Operación Imperio Ámsterdam, was conducted jointly by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the OS-7 unit of Carabineros. It aims to dismantle a criminal organization suspected of illicit cannabis trade through dispensaries that appear to operate under therapeutic pretenses. The investigation, which has been ongoing for over two years, involves crimes related to Law 20.000 and money laundering. Over 500 Carabineros officers and nearly 20 field prosecutors participated in the simultaneous raids across nine regions. During these operations, law enforcement authorities seized large quantities of illegal substances. In La Serena, police pursued a suspect who attempted to evade inspection by fleeing into the river Elqui. After a high-speed chase, officers detained the individual and confiscated more than one million pesos worth of codeine-based syrups. These medications, intended for medical use under prescription, were being trafficked illegally by the suspect, who had prior convictions for similar offenses. In another incident, Carabineros carried out a neighborhood raid in El Bosque and San Ramón, resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals. The operation, described as a "barrio copamiento," targeted areas suspected of harboring organized crime activities. Similarly, a large-scale operation spanning from Antofagasta to Aysén led to the detention of 38 suspects linked to drug trafficking. These actions reflect the broader efforts of authorities to combat illicit drug networks operating within the country. Meanwhile, a separate case involving a well-known television host, Ivette Vergara, saw her temporarily detained for speeding. Police stopped her vehicle on the Costanera Norte near Lo Curro, where she was allegedly traveling at 160 kilometers per hour, exceeding the posted limit of 100 km/h. An alcohol test showed zero levels, according to police reports. She was taken to the 37th Police Station in Vitacura, where she will face a formal review of charges related to reckless driving. The legal process is ongoing, with no further public statements issued by Carabineros regarding the case. Camilo Huerta, a local figure, is currently under investigation for drug trafficking and faces an active arrest warrant. His involvement in the broader context of the anti-drug campaign remains under scrutiny. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on dismantling organized networks while addressing both large-scale and smaller-scale drug-related offenses across the nation.