Chile: Existence of a special police unit which could be described as a possible death squad, that investigates gang or political activity which could be considered a death squad (1998-1999)

No reports on a group or unit within the police forces that exclusively investigates gang or political activity or could be described as a possible death squad could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Information on unit-level operations of the Carabineros and Investigaciones police forces of Chile could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. A report on the police forces in Region V, for example, provides the total strength of the Carabineros contingent in the region, but states that the detailed breakdown of the forces could not be revealed by authorities for security reasons (El Mercurio de Valparaíso 25 Sept. 1999). However, authorities did announce that a special team had been formed by officers from "specialized tactical units" of the Carabineros to concentrate on locating a gang responsible for bank robberies in Quilpué (ibid. 19 Sept. 1999).

Despite the lack of detailed information on tactical or specialized police units, various sources consulted indicate the existence of special units or groups within the Carabineros which are participating or could participate in efforts to combat organized crime groups.

One source refers to a Carabineros Grupo de Operaciones Policiales Especiales (Special Police Operations Group, GOPE), formed in 1980, described as "primarily a Special Forces/Commando unit but … also responsible for counter-terrorist duties in government and diplomatic buildings," adding that "GOPE's 100 man strength is roughly divided into four 25-man teams" (Special Warfare Webpage 27 Apr. 1999). The Internet Website of the Carabineros states that GOPE, or OS6, is a specialized service under the Subdirección de Fronteras y Servicios Especiales (SUBDIFSECAR) (Carabineros de Chile 1999). The organizational chart of the Carabineros shows that SUBDIFSECAR also has a Department of Crime Investigation, or OS9 (ibid.). The Carabineros also has a Dirección de Inteligencia, or DIPOLCAR, which analyzes criminal activities and provides intelligence and advice on remedial or preventive measures (ibid.). The main component of the Carabineros is the Dirección de Orden y Seguridad (DIOSCAR), which has under its responsibility the prevention of, and response to, crimes, as well as investigations ordered by the courts and assistance to other public forces and institutions "through ordinary, extraordinary and specialized services" (ibid.).

A 27 Sept. 1999 news article reported an imminent "modernization" of the Carabineros and changes in judicial and penal provisions, aimed at dealing with a sharp increase in criminal gang activities (El Mercurio de Valparaíso 27 Sept. 1999). In the previous four years violent crime¾mostly attributable to gangs, of which at least 70 had been identified in Metropolitan Valparaíso¾has increased at an annual rate of 40 percent throughout Chile (ibid.).

The Ministry of the Interior of Chile reported in October 1999 that the Carabineros and Investigaciones had begun coordinated operations against street-level or small-amount retail (microtráfico) networks in Greater Santiago and 55 police Systems of Community Prevention had been implemented nationwide during the third quarter of the year through CONACE (National Drug Control Council, a government body that coordinates anti-drug actions among police and other government institutions).

A 16 November 1999 news article on drug trafficking in the cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso refers to "constant operations" against drug trafficking groups by the Carabineros, who rely to a great extent on reporting from citizens affected by the trafficking, and on a special Antinarcotics Brigade of the Investigaciones police force (El Mercurio de Valparaíso 16 Nov. 1999). Investigaciones is the smaller of the two police forces, with 3,120 officers nationwide (ibid. 4 Nov. 1999). Its efforts against drug trafficking gangs had been traditionally aimed at investigating individuals heading the largest groups, but a recent shift to investigating microtráfico networks has proven more successful (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Carabineros de Chile, Santiago. 1999. "Organigrama." [Accessed 16 Nov. 1999]

El Mercurio de Valparaíso. 16 November 1999. "Mapa de las drogas en Viña y Valparaíso." [Accessed 16 Nov. 1999]

_____. 4 November 1999. "Asumió nuevo jefe zonal de Investigaciones." [Accessed 16 Nov. 1999]

_____. 27 September 1999. "Medidas contra pandillas." [Accessed 16 Nov. 1999]

_____. 25 September 1999. "Sólo tres mil carabineros para seguridad de V Región." [Accessed 16 Nov. 1999]

_____. 19 September 1999. "Crean brigada especial para detener a asaltantes de bancos de Quilpué." [Accessed 16 Nov. 1999]

Ministerio del Interior, Santiago. October 1999. Informe 3er Trimestre 1999. "Ambito Operativo-Policial." [Accessed 17 Nov. 1999]

The Special Warfare Webpage [Tacoma, Wash]. 27 April 1999. "Chile's Grupo de Operaciones Policiales Especiales." [Accessed 16 Nov. 1999]

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report [London]. 1998-1999.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1998 [Washington, DC]. 1999.

Human Rights Watch World Report [New York]. 1998-1999.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1998-1999.

Latin American Regional Reports: Southern Cone Report [London]. 1998-1999.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, REFWORLD, Global NewsBank, Internet, WNC.