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From Forestal Arauco Property: 12 People Arrested in Biobío for Illegal Timber Extraction

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A coordinated operation between the Public Prosecutor's Office and Carabineros' OS-9 resulted in the arrest of 12 people for illegal timber extraction on a Forestal Arauco property, located at kilometer 7.8 of Route O-846 in Coronel, Biobío region.

Personnel from the OS-9 Biobío Section, with support from the Fourth Police Station, caught "a dozen people in the act of illegally cutting down wood," as detailed in the police report.

The detainees, aged between 27 and 54, will face a detention hearing and possible formal charges this Friday at the local Guarantee Court.

Tools and Timber Worth Over $1 Million Seized

During the operation, five pickup trucks not reported stolen, five chainsaws, an axe, and 18 cubic meters of eucalyptus—valued at over one million pesos—were confiscated.

Carabineros confirmed that those involved lacked the necessary permits to extract timber from the property, leading to their immediate arrest. The on-duty prosecutor ordered formal charges due to the severity of the incident.

According to police records, eleven of the arrested individuals have prior criminal records for offenses such as micro-trafficking, threats, domestic violence, and theft.

Among the accused are notable cases like M.A.A.L (27 years old), with nine records for receiving stolen goods and carrying a bladed weapon, and C.A.D.M (34 years old), linked to ten cases of assault and domestic violence. Only one detainee has no criminal history.

The operation was part of the commitments under Biobío's organized crime task force. In this context, OS-9 personnel conducted "patrols in areas prone to timber theft," intercepting the suspects within the forestry company's grounds.

Prosecutor's Office Orders Detention Hearing and Considers Charges

The lead prosecutor instructed that the accused be taken to declare before the Coronel Guarantee Court. According to the report, "the detainees will undergo a detention hearing," where charges for theft and possible ties to criminal networks will be assessed.

As such, the investigation will also examine the destination of the seized timber and the origin of the tools used.

Source:Channel 9 Biobio TV