June 9, 2026 / 9:21 AM EDT
/ CBS/AFP
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Chilean authorities on Monday announced a record seizure of over 1,000 tons of drugs hidden in lumber shipments destined for Europe, hailing its canine teams for helping lead to an "historic seizure" for the South American nation."Thanks to a joint effort by the prosecutor's office, maritime police, and customs, 1,080 tons of wood laced with various drugs were seized, marking a historic blow to organized crime in our country," the customs bureau said in a statement.The drugs found in the lumber were mostly cocaine and ketamine, with an estimated retail value of $8.3 billion on the European market, the statement added."To give you a point of comparison, that's equivalent to 100 years of our budget," Vice Adm. Arturo Oxley said in the statement.The bureau said the illicit drugs are usually sent to more than a dozen international markets, including the United States.The agency credited canine teams and "special technologies" with being able to uncover the drugs, and released images of sniffer dogs next to the timber.
Chilean authorities announced the seizure of a record number of drugs in lumber shipments destined for Europe, hailing a record bust for the South American nation.
