What was previously unknown in Chile about transnational criminal gangs, today has become a topic of conversation and big headlines in the national and regional press, after the presence of criminal groups that have established themselves in the national geography, but even more , in a network that has spread its tentacles to other countries such as: Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile.
The O’Higgins region does not escape this reality and proof of this are the crimes that in recent months reveal the operation of criminal gangs that have targeted the regional capital, Rancagua.
After the kidnapping of businessman Rudy Basualdo, which occurred in November of last year, several hypotheses were woven about those responsible for this crime, that in principle three individuals were captured and their subsequent formalization; But last week a seventh was captured and charged, which allowed both the Prosecutor’s Office and the Investigative Police team to bring to light that the sextet belonged to an international criminal organization.
In view of the fact that the regional prosecutor (s) Javier Von Bischoffshausen affirmed that those responsible for the crimes of kidnapping the Rancagüino businessman belong to a faction of the criminal organization “Tren de Aragua”, which is defined as: “The Pirates of Aragua”, we consulted various actors in regional political life about the criminal acts and the presence of this dangerous criminal organization in our region.
Diego Schalper: “From regrets to actions”
The deputy for the O’Higgins region, Diego Schalper Sepúlveda, said that the confirmation that the criminal organization “Tren de Aragua” is operating from this region is “extremely serious.”
He stressed that within the work plan that he presented to the regional government, with 15 points, called “O’Higgins Seguro”, it reflects a pro-positive effort, so that a regional strategy against organized crime is created.
Schalper emphasized it by stating that, “we must move from regrets to actions,” because nothing is done by saying there is a problem and doing nothing about it.
In his opinion, the regional government and the Presidential Delegation “have to have a very active leadership in this and as a parliamentarian he has made these proposals available, so he hopes they are part of the effort of a regional strategy.
Lenin Arroyo: “This had already been warned”
The Regional Councilor, Lenin Arroyo, was consulted on the matter and stated that “foreign drug crime has been operating and has been established since 2022 in the region and that the government’s anti-crime measures have been a true failure” and added that there is no intelligence work, just bombastic advertisements with no effect.
According to Arroyo, the “Street Without Violence” Plan has failed because shootings between foreign gangs, who riddled each other with bullets throughout the territory, are daily occurrences in our towns, especially in the Eastern sector of Rancagua.
“What the Prosecutor’s Office says is not new, because in 2022, it had already been warned about this,” he said, noting that after assuming office as regional advisor he had access to intelligence documentation, where the police indicated that certain nationals were operating with foreign elements of drug criminal gangs who sought to settle in this region, because they had been fleeing specifically from the northern part of the country.
In the counselor’s opinion, those reports went into the trash can, but no one did anything to prevent this situation.
“To attack these gangs it is necessary for parliamentarians to speak out (…) especially the parliamentarians of our region, and expedite the Intelligence Law that has been dormant in Congress for several years.”
Finally, he assured that, if there is no change in strategies, tactics, political will to do things and act to combat real crime (…) the Aragua Train will continue in this region killing, murdering, extorting and doing whatever whoever wants, because the authorities have had the inability to operate accordingly.
Senator Javier Macaya: “I strongly reject”
The senator for the O’Higgins region, Javier Macaya, was consulted on the matter and expressed that “I strongly reject any act of violence and crime in the O’Higgins Region and throughout the country.”
The also president of the UDI party, considers that if the information given by the representative of the Public Ministry is real, it is very serious and for this reason it becomes even more essential that measures be taken once and for all to reinforce security throughout the country”
“We are willing to vote in favor of everything that means protecting citizens and guaranteeing the rule of law,” he expressed bluntly.
He added in his statements that The current situation of insecurity requires firm and coordinated actions to confront criminal organizations and restore peace and security in our region and throughout the country.
The ruling party did not want to comment
There were several attempts made with some deputies and political leaders linked to the ruling party, to find out their opinion regarding the presence of criminal gangs that would be operating in the O’Higgins region. Several of those consulted declined to provide their impressions for this article. Off camera they stated that they did not have any further background on what the prosecutor said, and that due to the seriousness of the issue they preferred not to give an opinion at the moment because “the investigation is secret and the Government does not want to hinder the success of the investigations.”
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