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Caught in the Act for Timber Theft in Pelarco

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• Three individuals were caught by a drone while illegally cutting down eucalyptus trees on a farm, now facing legal consequences.

In a surprise operation conducted by security personnel of the Astillero Alto farm in Pelarco, Maule Region, three men were caught red-handed while stealing eucalyptus wood. Aerial monitoring with drones was key to discovering and detaining the suspects, who had already loaded timber valued at 4 million pesos into a pickup truck.

Talca's chief prosecutor, Héctor de la Fuente, reported that during the detention control hearing, the defendants were formally charged for the incident. They were informed of the investigation's purpose and, after reaching an agreement with the forestry company's lawyer, they accepted an alternative resolution for a one-year period. This resolution involves complying with certain conditions, under which the case will be suspended as long as they do not commit other crimes.

Additionally, the Public Prosecutor's Office requested and obtained from the court a precautionary measure prohibiting the defendants from approaching or entering the affected farm. They must also each contribute 100 thousand pesos to the San Francisco de Asís Animal Protection Society as part of the imposed conditions.

This incident highlights the importance of technology in monitoring and protecting natural resources, as well as the need for effective legal measures to combat illegal timber theft, a crime that affects both the economy and the environment.