The colonisation of downtowns by predatory organised crime in Chile

This case study examines the recent increase in criminal violence and diversification of illegal markets in Chile, a country historically considered safe in Latin America. The objective is to discern if this was due to the rise of organised crime (OC) from domestic criminal organisations or to the establishment of transnational predatory organised crime (POC) amidst a recent wave of immigration. We develop a multidimensional analysis of official reports, press, crime statistics and geographic evolution of crime between 2017 and 2022. Results indicate that endemic OC has intensified in forestry regions and marginal neighbourhoods, but the emergence of violent crime conglomerates in downtowns of major cities is associated with POC that preys on immigrant communities. We conclude that both domestic and foreign OC are growing threats. Policy implications include the need to reinforce financial investigation capacities, coordinating agencies against OC and preventive social policies with special attention to immigrants.