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Two years after the law was enacted: over 400 people arrested for timber theft in the province of Arauco

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• From Carabineros, they commented that the work carried out in previous years to combat criminal organizations associated with timber theft has helped stabilize the crime rate this year.

In just a few more days, it will be two years since the law that classifies timber theft as a crime was enacted. The intersectoral efforts between the police and the Government, along with timely reports, have led to the arrest of over 400 people in recent years.

The provincial delegate of Arauco, Humberto Toro, stated that "without a doubt, one of the main problems in the province, which was related to inheritance, was timber theft. That is why we confronted it with strength and determination, using all the mechanisms provided by the law. Through coordinated work with the police and the public ministry, we managed to arrest major figures in the illicit business dedicated precisely to timber theft. From 2021 to July 2024, 418 people have been detained in the area."

The Government noted that the trend of fewer cases and a high number of arrests for timber theft continues, with 54 people arrested just last July.

Recall that in the province of Arauco, a series of irregular businesses profiting from timber theft on private lands have been dismantled. From Carabineros, they commented that the work carried out in previous years to combat criminal organizations associated with timber theft has helped stabilize the crime rate this year.

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Additionally, they added that coordination continues between the police, the Government, CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), and the Internal Revenue Service to carry out inspection operations, as well as with the community to encourage reporting in flagrante delicto.

Colonel Carlos Contreras, prefect of Carabineros in the province of Arauco, said, "We have a team dedicated solely to intervening in places where this crime commonly occurs. This year, arrest numbers remain high, while reports without arrests have decreased."

A large part of the operations have been conducted with the support of the National Defense Headquarters for the provinces of Arauco and Biobío, due to the state of constitutional exception in effect since May 16, 2022, in the so-called southern macrozone.

Source:adnradio.cl