A court has ordered the extended detention of two Bolivian citizens, aged 31 and 43, after they were caught performing work to fill in a security trench on the border in Colchane, in the Tarapacá region.
The operation was carried out by specialized units of the Carabineros (Chilean National Police), including personnel from the OS7, OS9, and SEBV units. Officers spotted an MF-brand, model 750 excavator moving earth to create unauthorized crossings along the international border.
Captain Hans Burdiles, the Colchane sub-commissioner, noted that the machinery had no license plates and did not show any signs of being stolen. According to the officer, the suspects' goal was to facilitate vehicle smuggling through the area.
Alert over use of heavy machinery
Prosecutors requested an extension of the detention period until this Thursday. Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor's Office ordered that the seized machinery be handed over to Customs officials for custody.
Representative Luis Malla described the incident as a warning sign regarding the increasing sophistication of criminal gangs. "This is an alert that shows these gangs are capable of entering Chilean territory with heavy machinery just to achieve their criminal objectives," the lawmaker stated.
Malla further warned that these types of maneuvers at unauthorized crossings are often linked to drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, and human trafficking.
From the opposition, Representative Mario Olavarría called for a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and the interests behind these attacks on border infrastructure. The lawmaker maintained that the construction of the trench is a vital measure for preventing trafficking crimes.
The trench is part of the 'Border Shield Plan,' a government initiative aimed at controlling irregular migration. The project features a structure three meters high and three meters wide, stretching across 30 kilometers.