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Illegal Logging Ring Dismantled in Los Lagos

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In a successful operation, detectives from the specialized Timber Theft Unit of the Valdivia Criminal Investigation Brigade, under the Investigative Police (PDI), arrested three individuals involved in the illegal logging and theft of timber in the commune of Los Lagos.

The operation concluded with the seizure of a truck equipped with a self-loading crane and five pine trees, valued at approximately $15 million.

Commissioner Juan Camaño of the Valdivia Criminal Investigation Brigade reported that the operation was carried out following coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office, which allowed the identification of the suspects while they were loading the illegally felled timber without authorization at the "El Pastor" property. The detainees include the seller of the logs, the buyer, and the transporter.

The trees, of the exotic Pine species and cut into 6-meter-long logs of varying diameters, were found in the truck used for transportation. This vehicle, equipped with a self-loading crane, was among the items seized during the operation.

The individuals, all of Chilean nationality and one with prior police records, have been placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office to continue investigations and determine the corresponding penalties.

This incident highlights the importance of surveillance and control in the exploitation of natural resources, as well as the effectiveness of security forces in combating illegal logging and timber theft, a crime that harms both the environment and private property.