More than 20 arrests made during raids to disband drug rings

SANTIAGO.- A series of simultaneous raids carried out in five municipalities in the southern sector of Santiago reportedly resulted in 20 arrests and abundant drug seizures. The objective of the searches was to apprehend members of three gangs dedicated to money laundering and drug trafficking.

The raids began at 6:00 AM and were carried out at 20 residences in the municipalities of Lo Espejo, Maipú, San Ramón, Puente Alto and El Bosque. The operations were led by the head of the South Metropolitan Public Prosecutor's Office, Alejandro Peña, and the Undersecretary of Interior, Patricio Rosende.

The searches were conducted in an attempt to arrest members of the "Los del 24", "Los chispas" and "Los Lucas" gangs, which are currently being investigated by the Public Prosecutor's Office and the OS-7 National Police Department for crimes of drug trafficking and money laundering, which the members had allegedly been performing through the purchase of vehicles and properties.

The three gangs had been operating from a headquarters located in the rundown neighborhood of Santa Adriana in Lo Espejo, where a large quantity of cocaine sulfate, marihuana, firearms and vehicles were seized.