Chilean authorities reported the seizure of more than 108 tons of drugs that were transported hidden in shipments of wood from Bolivia, in what has been described as the largest seizure recorded in the South American country.

The operation was the result of a six-month investigation coordinated between security agencies, which detected a sophisticated scheme used by criminal organizations to hide large quantities of narcotics inside commercial shipments of wood destined for the Chilean market.

The drugs found in the wood were mainly cocaine and ketamine, with an estimated value of 8,334 million dollars in the European market, a statement said.

“To give you an idea, this is equivalent to 100 years of our budget,” said Vice Admiral Arturo Oxley in the statement.

According to the authorities, the drug was located during inspections carried out on various shipments that entered the national territory, with the help of canine teams.

The narcotics were hidden in specially conditioned compartments within the merchandise, with the aim of evading border and customs controls.

Investigations indicate that the criminal network operated at a transnational level, taking advantage of trade routes between Bolivia and Chile to move drugs to other markets in the region.

The discovery prevented a large amount of illicit substances from reaching the streets and generated million-dollar profits for the organizations involved.

After the seizure of the drugs, investigations continue to identify all those responsible for the logistical and financial operation behind the shipment, as well as to determine the final destination of the seized shipments.