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Protesters Block Route 160 in Protest Over Inspection of Trucks Linked to Timber Theft
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A group of protesters blocked Route 160 in support of two individuals who were arrested after being caught with stolen timber on Route 160 near Arauco in the Bío Bío region. Information from BioBioChile indicates that the seized trucks came from an area where more transports were spotted alongside piles of wooden logs.
A group of demonstrators cut off Route 160 in support of two people detained by Carabineros after they were caught transporting stolen timber on the highway near the commune of Arauco in the Bío Bío region.
Public Order Control personnel had to intervene to clear the road after protesters set up barricades and blocked traffic on Tuesday afternoon.
Two individuals caught with stolen timber
Carabineros were alerted about a truck traveling without license plates on Route 160 near Horcones in the commune of Arauco.
In response to the call, police officers moved to the highway and conducted an inspection of heavy-duty vehicles, confirming that the logs they were carrying were of dubious origin and that they lacked the proper permits to operate such vehicles.
The commander of Carabineros in Arauco, Óscar Sandoval, provided details of the operation, stating that both individuals were placed at the disposal of the local prosecutor's office.
Due to this incident, a group of people—who, according to Radio Bío Bío, defended the actions of the detainees—decided to block Route 160 near Horcones for over an hour.
The situation required the intervention of public order personnel.
According to information gathered by BioBioChile, the trucks seized on Monday morning came from this location (see image).
The photograph shows more transports and a large amount of timber, raising suspicions about the illegal trade of this material in the area.
Timber theft condemned
Meanwhile, the presidential delegate, Daniela Dresdner, who was in the commune of Arauco, condemned these types of protests.
The manager of the Chilean Wood Corporation for the Bío Bío and Ñuble regions, Fernando Illanes, praised Carabineros' efforts to combat timber theft.
"We appreciate and value the efforts Carabineros is making to investigate and dismantle these criminal gangs, the mafias dedicated to timber theft—a crime that affects our neighbors and community life, as well as workers and entrepreneurs legitimately engaged in the business," he stated.
It is worth recalling that timber theft is one of the entrenched crimes in the province of Arauco, and the previous administration accused it of being used to finance illegal activities related to violent actions in the area.
Source:biobiochile.cl
