Chilean authorities announced on Monday the seizure of over 1,000 tons of drugs concealed within lumber shipments destined for Europe. The customs bureau stated that this “historic seizure” was made possible through collaboration between the prosecutor’s office, maritime police, and customs officials.
The seized wood contained various drugs, primarily cocaine and ketamine, valued at approximately $8.3 billion on the European market. This amount is equivalent to 100 years of Chile’s annual budget, according to Vice Adm. Arturo Oxley.
Customs officials credited canine teams and “special technologies” for detecting the illicit substances. The agency released images of sniffer dogs alongside the timber, emphasizing ongoing staff training and the work of canine units across the country.
Following a six-month investigation, authorities identified 45 containers from Bolivia containing the tainted lumber. If these had reached their intended destinations in Europe, extraction processes would have been required to remove the drugs for sale in various international markets, including the United States.
In April, Brazilian police also made a significant seizure of 48 tons of drugs found by a sniffer dog named Hulk in Rio de Janeiro.