Rising Crime in Chile: The Impact of International Organized Crime Groups and the Need for a Holistic Approach to Combat It

Chile has witnessed a surge in violent crimes in recent years, mainly due to the influx of international organized crime groups into the country. These gangs, 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.

The judicial system is preparing for a mega-trial against 38 members of the Galician criminal gang, a subsidiary of Tren de Aragua, for various crimes including murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation, extortion, arms and drug trafficking. 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.

Pia Greene, a researcher at the Center for Studies in Public Security and Organized Crime at San Sebastián University discussed the challenges of combating transnational crime in Chile. She highlighted that organized crime is evolving with more violent crimes against individuals being committed. While progress has been made in addressing organized crime there is still a need for better intelligence coordination between law enforcement agencies and judges along with prison reform policies that address root causes of crime.

In terms of state action against crime Greene emphasized on improved coordination between law enforcement agencies prosecutors and judges to combat organized crime effectively. She also cautioned against militarizing crime as a solution citing potential risks associated with such measures. Ultimately Greene stressed on a holistic approach to addressing crime in Chile encompassing intelligence gathering effective law enforcement along with social policies aimed at preventing criminal behavior.