Operation in Valdivia removes seven vehicles from circulation in inspection against wood theft

An inspection operation deployed in different sectors of Valdivia made it possible to remove seven vehicles from circulation and issue five tax infractions, within the framework of the actions of the Plan against Organized Crime to address wood theft in the Los Ríos Region.

The procedure was coordinated by the Regional Presidential Delegation and the Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Public Security, with the participation of Carabineros, the Investigative Police, the Internal Revenue Service (SII), the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), the regional ministerial secretariats of Agriculture and Transport, as well as Municipal Security. The inspections included vehicle checks in rural areas and at the main northern and southern access points of the regional capital.

The Presidential Delegation highlighted that these actions seek to reinforce the State's inspection presence, combat illegal trade and protect forest resources. Delegate Vicky Carrasco stated that the removal of the vehicles responds to a strategy to strengthen security and address activities linked to wood theft.

Coordinated prevention

The Regional Ministerial Secretary of Public Security, Juan Agustín Meléndez, explained that wood theft is one of the prioritized crimes in the regional strategy. In that context, he maintained that removing from circulation vehicles that fail to comply with regulations makes it possible to reduce potential conditions that facilitate the commission of illicit acts.

The authority specified that there were no people detained and that, although some of the vehicles had remains or small quantities of wood, the information gathered does not make it possible to establish the commission of a specific crime. For now, the removal was based on infractions of current regulations.

For its part, Carabineros detailed that the checks were focused and mobile, making it possible to inspect vehicles traveling through different points of the commune. The deputy prefect of the Valdivia Prefecture, Lieutenant Colonel Hernán Rosas, indicated that the automobiles were removed for not having the documentation required to circulate.

Tax control

Another of the results of the procedure was reported by the regional director of the SII, Hugo Brito, who confirmed five tax infractions associated with the transport of wood and products intended for its commercialization. These correspond to two types of non-compliance contemplated in the Tax Code.

The inspection is part of an interinstitutional working group that seeks to strengthen the formalization of economic activities and improve control mechanisms over the transport and commercialization of forest products.

The authorities announced that new operations will continue to be carried out in the Los Ríos Region, whose details will remain reserved for security and planning reasons. This is a strategy that seeks to reinforce prevention and hinder the operation of illegal activities linked to wood theft.