Chile’s Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime: A Comprehensive Approach Needed to Tackle Root Causes

Chile has experienced a surge in violent crimes in recent years, primarily due to the presence of international organized crime gangs entering the country. Groups such as Tren de Aragua from Venezuela, Los Trinitarios from New York, and Los Pulpos from Peru have contributed significantly to the rise in criminal activity. Between 2014 and 2023, homicides increased by 60%, rapes by 46%, and robberies with violence or intimidation by 11%, according to data from the Center for Crime Studies and Analysis.

To combat this transnational crime wave, Chile is preparing for a mega-trial against 38 members of the Galician criminal gang, a subsidiary of Tren de Aragua. This trial is considered one of the most complex criminal processes in recent years due to the high level of danger posed by those involved. The trial includes various charges such as homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, extortion, arms and drug trafficking.

Pia Greene, a researcher at San Sebastián University’s Center for Studies in Public Security and Organized Crime, discussed the challenges of combating transnational crime in Chile. She highlighted that organized crime has shifted towards more violent crimes against individuals rather than traditional organized crime activities like drug trafficking and money laundering. While some progress has been made in addressing organized crime in Chile through law enforcement efforts and policy changes, there is still a need for better intelligence coordination between agencies and prison reform to tackle the root causes of crime effectively.

Greene emphasized that an improved coordination effort between law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judges is crucial to combat organized crime effectively. However, she cautioned against militarizing crime as a solution due to potential risks associated with such measures. Ultimately Greene stressed that addressing criminal behavior requires a holistic approach that encompasses intelligence gathering, effective law enforcement strategies along with social policies aimed at preventing it from occurring.

In conclusion , Chile needs a comprehensive approach that addresses both short term solutions like improving coordination between agencies while also addressing long term root causes like poverty education inequality which can lead people towards criminal activities . Only then will it be able to effectively address its current security concerns