Chilean authorities have achieved a milestone in their fight against drug trafficking. They seized more than 1,000 tons of drugs concealed within lumber shipments bound for Europe. This operation, praised as an “historic seizure,” demonstrated the effectiveness of collaboration among the prosecutor’s office, maritime police, and customs.

In a statement, the customs bureau reported that 1,080 tons of wood containing various drugs were confiscated. This marks a significant defeat for organized crime in Chile. The drugs, predominantly cocaine and ketamine, were valued at $8.3 billion on the European market, illustrating the scale of this seizure.

Vice Adm. Arturo Oxley highlighted the magnitude of the operation by comparing the drugs’ value to “100 years of our budget.” The illicit substances were typically intended for over a dozen international markets, including the United States.

The success of this operation is largely attributed to canine teams and advanced technologies. Images released by the agency featured sniffer dogs and showcased the pivotal role they played in uncovering the drugs. The National Director of Customs, Alejandra Arriaza, emphasized the importance of ongoing staff training and the contribution of canine units throughout the country.

This major breakthrough followed a six-month investigation. Authorities discovered 45 containers arriving from Bolivia containing tainted lumber. Had the cargo reached its destinations, specialized labs would have been needed to extract the drugs using “advanced chemical processes.” As more suspicious containers receive examination, the total haul may continue to grow.

Notably, in April, Brazilian police also made headlines for seizing a record 48 tons of drugs, discovered by a sniffer dog named Hulk in Rio de Janeiro.