Chile’s Battle Against Transnational Crime: Navigating the Dangerous Waters of Organized Gangs and Violent Crimes

Chile has seen a sharp increase in violent crimes in recent years, mainly due to the presence of international organized crime gangs entering the country. These groups include the Tren de Aragua from Venezuela, Los Trinitarios from New York, and Los Pulpos from Peru. Between 2014 and 2023, homicides increased by 60%, rapes by 46%, and robberies with violence or intimidation by 11%, according to data from the Center for Crime Studies and Analysis.

The judicial system in Chile is preparing for a mega-trial against 38 members of the Galician criminal gang, a subsidiary of the Tren de Aragua, for various crimes including homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, extortion, arms and drug trafficking. This trial is considered one of the most complex criminal processes in recent years in Chile due to the high level of danger posed by those involved.

Pia Greene, a researcher at San Sebastián University’s Center for Studies in Public Security and Organized Crime discussed the challenges of combating transnational crime in Chile. She highlighted that criminal activities in the country are shifting towards more violent crimes against individuals. While progress has been made in addressing organized crime, there is a need for better intelligence coordination, prison reform, and comprehensive policies to tackle the root causes of crime in Chile.

Greene emphasized that effective coordination between law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judges is crucial to combat organized crime effectively. However, she cautioned against militarizing crime as a solution citing potential risks and negative consequences associated with such measures. Ultimately Greene stressed that a holistic approach is needed to address crime in Chile which includes intelligence gathering