Chile Exposes $917 Million Copper Smuggling Ring to Chinese Buyers

Chilean police dismantled a massive copper smuggling network on Wednesday that drained an estimated $917 million worth of stolen copper from Chile over five years, marking one of the largest organized crime operations ever uncovered in the country. The smuggling group trucked stolen metal to Iquique, a port city in Chile's far north, then shipped it to Chinese buyers in containers disguised as scrap cargo, collecting more than $55 million during the operation. Chinese buyers were identified as the end destination of the illegal pipeline. The bust represents a major blow to organized crime in Chile, a leading global copper producer.

Scale and mechanics of the copper smuggling operation

• ▪The copper smuggling group trucked stolen metal to Iquique, a port city in Chile's far north.
• ▪A copper smuggling network drained an estimated US$917 million worth of stolen copper from Chile over five years.
• ▪The copper smuggling group shipped stolen copper to China in containers disguised as scrap cargo.
• ▪Chinese buyers were the end destination of the copper smuggling pipeline from Chile.
• ▪The copper smuggling group collected more than US$55 million over the five-year period.

Law enforcement response and arrests

• ▪The copper smuggling operation was one of the largest organised crime operations ever uncovered in Chile.
• ▪Chilean police dismantled the copper smuggling network on Wednesday.

Perspective of Chilean copper industry

• ▪The $917 million copper smuggling operation over five years represents a significant drain on Chile's copper resources and revenue.

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