6 Arrested As Chile Navy Snares Biggest Ever Cocaine Haul

Story By: Ana LacasaSub-EditorJoana Mihajlovska, Agency: Newsflash

Video Credit: DIRECTEMAR Armada de Chile/Newsflash

The Chilean Navy has arrested six people and seized over half a ton of cocaine in their biggest ever drugs haul.

Naval top brass said in a statement obtained by Newsflash that the 532 kilogrammes (1172 pounds) of cocaine hydrochloride, valued at USD 14 million (GBP 10 million ), were being shipped from Peru to a destination in central Chile.

Picture Credit: DIRECTEMAR Armada de Chile/Newsflash

The investigation lasted six months and provided intelligence that a large cocaine shipment was going to be trafficked at sea using a small fishing boat so that they would not be detected by custom patrols and the police.

The small fishing boat was stopped in the sector of Punta de Lobos, around 90 kilometres (56 miles)from Iquique in the northern Chilean region of Tarapaca.

During the operation, three crew members were arrested and three alleged members of a criminal gang working from Iquique were also detained.

Picture Credit: DIRECTEMAR Armada de Chile/Newsflash

The suspects have been charged with drug trafficking.

Judge Veronica Opazo Miranda, who is in charge of the investigation, ordered five of the suspects to be sent to preventive prison as there is a chance they could reoffend or try to flee.

The other suspect is being held under house arrest.

The judge also set 120 days for the end of the investigation.

The authorities suspect that more arrests could be made.

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