The audit began with a selection process using risk profiling tools, and the use of the scanner truck allowed for the detection of anomalies that were later confirmed through physical inspection and field tests.
Customs officials in Iquique seized 51 packages containing cocaine alkaloid and another 26 packages containing ketamine, during a control procedure carried out at the Quillagua Customs Outpost.
The procedure began after the vehicle was selected for inspection through a process based on information analysis and risk profiling. As part of the tools available to enhance the control, officials decided to subject the vehicle to examination using the mobile scanner truck.
The images obtained using this tool allowed for the detection of anomalies in areas corresponding to the vehicle’s side panels. Based on these alerts, specialized officials conducted a focused physical inspection, confirming the existence of packages hidden within these structures.
The procedure initially yielded 51 packages containing an ochre-colored substance, with a gross weight of 54.4 kilograms. Subsequent field tests confirmed the substance to be cocaine alkaloid.
During the same inspection, another 26 packages containing a white substance, with a gross weight of 28.5 kilograms, were found. Field tests confirmed the substance to be ketamine. In total, 77 packages of illicit substances were seized.
The Regional Director of Customs in Iquique, Ricardo Aceituno, highlighted the importance of combining the different inspection tools used by the Service.
“This procedure demonstrates the importance of the specialized work carried out by our officials and the tools that Customs uses to select and inspect vehicles that present certain risk profiles. In this case, the preliminary analysis determined the need to subject the vehicle to inspection using the scanner truck, whose images generated alerts that were subsequently confirmed through physical inspection and field tests.”
Aceituno added that “customs oversight combines information analysis, risk management, technology, and the experience of our officials. This integration of tools allows us to focus controls and deepen reviews when there are elements that require it.”
Following the procedure, the individuals involved and the seized items were turned over to the appropriate authorities, in accordance with established procedures. The inspection report also documents the delivery of the items to the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the corresponding chain of custody documentation.