Chile busts 100‑ton drug shipment hidden in wood logs

Chile’s authorities seized an unprecedented 100 tonnes of cocaine and ketamine concealed inside wooden planks at the ports of Arica, San Antonio and Valparaíso. The drugs were chemically impregnated into the wood, a method that evades standard X‑ray scanning and visual inspection. After a six‑month intelligence operation, investigators, aided by the Public Health Institute, canine units and specialized scanners, uncovered 45 containers of the tainted lumber.

The cargo, sourced from Bolivia, was destined for at least fifteen countries across Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania, with an estimated street value of about US$8.3 billion. The seizure highlights a novel trafficking technique that could alter drug smuggling practices worldwide.