Chilean police arrest 22 in swoop on salmon truck hijacking gangs
More than 20 people have been detained in a swoop in a crackdown on armed hijackings of salmon trucks in Chile.
Fish Farming Expert’s Chilean sister site, Salmonexpert.cl, reports that a massive operation is under way by the Chilean Investigative Police (PDI), the Southern Prosecutor’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service (SII) at the Metropolitan Fish Terminal in the Lo Espejo district of the capital, Santiago. The investigation centres on the theft of salmon, which was then sold at the terminal.
The operation follows the discovery of two gangs dedicated to stealing salmon on different highways in the country.
Investigators said gangsters stole fish and then delivered them to merchants who sold the product at the Fish Terminal or at neighbourhood fairs. According to Radio Biobío, at least 18 shops and warehouses were searched at the Fish Terminal to find illicit merchandise.
22 arrested
So far, 22 people have been arrested in Santiago, Calera de Tango and Lampa, (both in Santiago Metrpolitan Region), and Papudo and San Antonio (both in Valparaiso region).
Prosecutor Héctor Barros stated that the operation revealed “two criminal organisations under investigation for criminal association and for armed robbery of fish, in this case, salmon.” Violations of the Fisheries Law and tax offences are also being investigated.
Barros added that the gangs operated in the Metropolitan, Valparaíso and Bío Bío regions, and that a container full of spoiled products was found at the terminal, so he stressed the risks of buying stolen goods.
Firearms seized
Prefect Inspector Marco Ramírez, head of the PDI's National Unit Against Robberies and Criminal Hotspots, indicated that the gangs operated from the south of the country, stealing cargo from trucks and then sending it to the Metropolitan Region. This resulted in a break in the cold chain, with the consequent health risk to people. He added that trucks, vehicles, firearms, and other assets were seized.
Arturo Clément, president of salmon trade body SalmonChile, said the sector valued the successful operation carried out at the Metropolitan Fish Terminal.
“We have witnessed an alarming evolution in these crimes, which have moved from farms to land transport, with increasingly organised and violent gangs. Today's operation is a direct result of joint work and greater coordination achieved between the public and private sectors,” he added.
"We especially highlight the increased involvement of the Internal Revenue Service, the work of the police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office. The investigative commission of the Chamber of Deputies last year was also a milestone that helped to bring this problem to light.
“This type of coordinated action is the right way to address not only the economic impact of these thefts, but also the health risks they pose to consumers and the risks to the safety and wellbeing of our workers and transporters. As SalmonChile, we remain committed to this cause and are providing crucial information for the prosecution of these criminal gangs.”
