Chile has emerged as one of the latest battlegrounds against organized crime, as alarming rates of violence overshadow the nation’s previous reputation as one of the safest countries in Latin America. Once boasting one of the lowest homicide rates—2.5 per 100,000 inhabitants—Chile has witnessed this figure soar to 6.7 by 2022, according to data from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Although this rate is still below the average for the Americas—which stands at around 15 homicides per 100,000—the rapid growth troubles residents and authorities alike. "Now you see blood in the streets, bullet shells, knives lying around. We weren't used to this and now it's very familiar," remarked Lina Bilbao, chairwoman of the local council in Recoleta, Santiago. Neighbourhoods once familiar with relative calm are now installing security cameras and fencing off properties to ward off criminal elements proliferated by gangs.
The surge of violence is closely associated with the expansion of powerful gangs from other countries, particularly Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Peru's Los Pulpos. These groups have introduced methods and levels of violence previously foreign to Chile. “These are criminal organizations...that have expanded across different parts of Latin America,” noted Luis Cordero, Chile's Interior Secretary, emphasizing how their violent tactics place additional pressure on local police forces.
For many residents, the chilling rise of organized crime has led to significant changes in daily life and personal security measures. One designer from Santiago, Sofía Carvajal, has taken to wearing jewelry embedded with emergency buttons. These accessories allow her to send her location to pre-selected contacts if she feels threatened. “There is insecurity. I don't walk in the street calmly any more,” Carvajal reflects, embodying the anxiety many Chileans now feel.
Statistics echo the rising concerns; violent robberies have shot up by 25% from 2014 to 2023. Local businesses are increasingly seeking armoured vehicle modifications, with some firms, such as Blindatek, reporting retrofits of their cars skyrocketing from 30 to 200 annually. “Clients have had traumatic experiences,” said Rodrigo Rivera, managing director of Blindatek, recalling the gun-related incidents faced by his clientele.
The Chilean government, responding to the mounting public fear, has focused intensifying efforts on combating this wave of violence. A 200-strong anti-crime unit was recently formed to bolster the prosecutor's office, along with the introduction of a new Security Ministry aimed at addressing these challenges effectively. Despite initial challenges, homicide figures have slightly declined, from 1,330 cases registered in 2022 to 1,248 cases the following year. Yet, the numbers remain shocking for the nation’s population of around 20 million.
Chile isn’t the only country grappling with the burgeoning threat of organized crime. Across South America, nations are experiencing similar struggles. Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil are all seeing increased activity from gangs involved not just with drug trafficking but also with human trafficking and violent crime. This trend serves as a worrying reminder of the interconnected nature of these issues.
The Colombian example is also telling. For decades, Colombia struggled against powerful cartels like the Medellín and Cali Cartels. Still, as the country made strides against major drug trafficking organizations, new groups have emerged with often deadlier methods. Yet, unlike Chile, Colombia has developed significant military and police frameworks to effectively address and contain these criminal elements.
What’s particularly unnerving is the extent to which fear has permeated daily life even outside large urban centers. Reports indicate alarming rises in crime throughout smaller towns and rural areas—an environment once thought immune to the scourge of organized crime. Residents now find themselves dealing with everything from drug trafficking to violent robberies, challenging the very notion of safety throughout the entire region.
The societal shift is palpable. Conversations about purchasing pepper spray, community watches, and increased cooperation with law enforcement have surged, with many communities seeking to reclaim their safety from the encroaching threat of organized criminal operations.
Historically, the lack of organized frameworks to combat such criminal elements has been blamed for the swift growth of these gangs. Many governments, like Chile's, once perceived crime as largely controlled, resulting in insufficient preparedness to deal with the new tactics and aggression seen from organized crime gangs.
“It took Chile a long time to adjust to this new crime. But just as crime is changing, so must state interventions adapt,” said Interior Secretary Cordero, highlighting the importance of dynamic responses to emergent threats. Chile’s belated movements toward combatting organized crime highlight how quickly things can deteriorate when the political focus shifts away from public safety.
Organized crime across the Americas presents not only law enforcement challenges but broader socio-economic issues affecting stability and citizens’ well-being. Countries like Chile must now navigate these violent trends, confronting the aftereffects of crime on everyday reality and working toward effective strategies to combat their evolution.