Chile detains Bolivian soldiers, uncovers drug‑impregnated wood

Chile’s prosecutors confirmed that wood seized from Bolivia contained ketamine, cocaine and other controlled substances, detected through a new extraction procedure after traditional visual and scanner methods failed. The analysis, conducted by the Institute of Public Health, found drug concentrations below 5 percent. UNODC officials noted that chemical impregnation can render drugs invisible to standard detection tools.

Separately, Chilean Carabineros stopped a convoy of five Bolivian military personnel near Colchane, confiscating a unregistered Toyota Land Cruiser, pistols, a war rifle, ammunition, CS‑gas cartridges and a hand‑grenade. The detainees were transferred to a border complex for return to Bolivia, while the seized weapons were sent to forensic labs. Both incidents have heightened diplomatic tension between Chile and Bolivia over border security and drug trafficking.