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Investigation into Link Between Seized Weapons in Quilaco and Alto Biobío and 2021-2022 Arson Attacks

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Ammunition, rifles, and shotguns were seized by detectives from the Special Police Investigations and Anti-Kidnapping Brigade (BIPE) of the Investigative Police (PDI) of Biobío province during a recent raid on three properties in the communes of Quilaco and Alto Biobío.

The detectives received search and seizure warrants to confiscate weaponry allegedly linked to terrorist acts in the area. This was confirmed by the chief commissioner of the BIPE-Anti-Kidnapping unit in Los Ángeles, David Meliñir Carrasco.

"This brigade has conducted various investigative procedures related to crimes of attacks between the years 2021 and 2022 in the communes of Quilaco and Santa Bárbara," he detailed.

Therefore, he added, after analyzing these background details, a judicial order for entry, search, and seizure was managed and received for three residences located in the communes of Quilaco and Alto Biobío.

The PDI officer added that "three people were arrested, all Chilean adults, for the flagrant crime of violating the Weapons Law."

WEAPONRY AND AMMUNITION

At a residence in the Rucalhue sector, Quilaco, a 12-gauge shotgun with its respective cartridges was seized, along with a .22 caliber rifle.

Meanwhile, at the La Suerte estate, also in Quilaco, a .22 caliber rifle with its respective ammunition was seized, together with 12-gauge cartridges.

At this location, three adults, all Chilean, were arrested for violation of the Weapons Law.

Then, in the Malla-Malla sector, Alto Biobío, camouflage clothing was seized, in addition to a cell phone.

The operation was supported by specialized units of the PDI from Los Ángeles, Valdivia, Temuco, Angol, Cañete, and Concepción, as well as personnel from the Army and Navy, and was carried out without incident and according to plan.

DETENTION HEARING

The detainees, all Chilean adults with no criminal records, were placed at the disposal of the Santa Bárbara Guarantee Court for the crime of illegal carrying and possession of weapons and ammunition.

They were released, and a four-month investigation period was decreed.

According to La Tribuna, detectives were searching for weapons that were supposedly properly registered.

However, upon raiding one of the properties, they encountered items associated with terrorist acts that allegedly occurred between 2021 and 2022 in the mountainous area of Biobío.

For this reason, the weapons were sent to the Forensic Laboratory (Lacrim) of the PDI in Concepción for analysis.

2021-2022 ATTACKS

In 2021, Biobío province was affected by at least four arson attacks in the communes of Quilaco, Quilleco, Santa Bárbara, and Los Ángeles.

The first took place on July 31 in the Rucalhue sector, after 11:00 PM, resulting in 11 construction machines burned. On August 20, in the commune of Quilleco, seven trucks were burned in the first incident affecting a forestry operation, recorded at the El Roble estate in the Canteras sector.

On August 28, in the commune of Santa Bárbara, around five armed criminals returned to set fire to forestry machinery. Finally, that year, Los Ángeles recorded the first arson attack, which occurred in the Paraguay sector.

For this case, Ernesto Llaitul, son of the leader of the Arauco Malleco Coordinator (CAM), was arrested and brought to justice; and Héctor Llaitul, who along with five others were acquitted following a split decision by the Oral Criminal Trial Court (TOP) of Los Ángeles.

In August 2022, the area again experienced violent incidents, when three arson attacks disrupted the peace in Mulchén, leaving three logging trucks burned and two tractors completely unusable.

Source:La Tribuna