Organized Crime in Chile: Better Late Than Never

El Líbero, December 1, 2023

Informed decisions, dismantling criminal networks in correctional facilities, and creating opportunities for new generations is a way to begin.

$870 billion per year is generated by the organized crime as stated by the Interpol leader this week. The impact of this type of crime on security is evident, but it is not the only issue, as it also damages the social fabric and hinders economic development. A multidimensional threat that has the national fear index at its highest level.

How new is this for Chile? Not much. Since the 1990s, organized crime has used our country as a transit zone through drug trafficking; however, due to institutional weakening and the regression of the rule of law, criminal gangs have managed to establish themselves and compete for power with local criminal groups.

This has led to the advancement of crime in various areas. We are no longer only talking about drug trafficking, but also about arms and human trafficking. Furthermore, we should refer to a problem that is directly impacting the development and well-being of the population: the illicit markets surrounding our commodities.

It is true that Chile has functioning institutions. However, an effective response to organized crime does not merely involve having them; it is necessary for these institutions to have the appropriate processes, tools, and approach to tackle the phenomenon. And that is where we fail. We did not modernize in time, and now we are constantly reacting to it.

We need a Ministry of Education that prevents our children and adolescents from joining criminal gangs, that supports them, and prevents school dropout; a Ministry of Health that incorporates problematic drug use as a public health issue and contributes with rehabilitation measures; a Ministry of Housing that works with other institutions to control illegal land occupations; Internal Revenue Service, Customs, Financial Analysis Unit… And we could continue listing. In summary, we require a present and active state in all its dimensions, not just in security.

However, there is a crucial element missing that is currently making headlines in all media: corruption. A prosecutor’s office document to the Ministry of Housing “lost along the way” and the theft of computers, including that of former minister Jackson, necessitate a discussion about corruption. Without it, the advancement of organized crime becomes more difficult while simultaneously strengthening the state, its institutions, and democracy.

It is not easy to respond to this threat; there are multiple aspects that must be addressed. Resources are limited, as is time. But that cannot lead us to paralysis; we must start somewhere. The question is where. There is no magic recipe to answer it, but undoubtedly, intelligence, prisons, and the youth should be prioritized. Informed decisions, dismantling criminal networks in correctional facilities, and creating opportunities for new generations is a way to begin. Not everything can be solved with more police; that is only part of the solution.

Pilar Lizana
Researcher, AthenaLab

Source: El Líbero