Biobío Region sees record weapons possession and sharp homicide rise, report says

A report by the Observatorio del Crimen Organizado y Terrorismo (OCRIT) of Universidad Andrés Bello, presented on 4 August, warned of a structural shift in crime in Chile’s Biobío Region. The study highlighted a dramatic increase in lethal violence, with the number of homicides (excluding femicides) rising 130.8 % between 2014 and 2025.

The communes of Concepción, San Pedro de la Paz and Talcahuano recorded the highest homicide counts in 2025, accounting for 90 cases in total: 18 in Concepción and 11 each in San Pedro de la Paz and Talcahuano. Concepción’s homicide count grew 350 %, San Pedro de la Paz 57.1 % and Talcahuano a staggering 1 000 % over the period. The report also noted a 57.9 % rise in kidnappings and a peak in illegal weapons and explosives possession.

Pablo Urquízar, OCRIT coordinator, and regional officials Claudia Chamorro (regional police chief) and Richard Soto (regional security minister) stressed that the region’s population density, economic activity and port infrastructure make it a strategic target for organized crime, requiring focused prevention and prosecution efforts.