Chile Faces Growing Risk Of Freight Cargo Hijackings
The South American nation of Chile has long been known as one of the safest countries in Latin America. However, a recent trend of freight cargo hijackings in Chile has foreign executives on alert and raised new concerns about the dangers truckers face on Chilean roads.
In one incident in May 2024, a group of kidnappers seized a delivery truck carrying products for Mexican snack giant Grupo Bimbo in the capital, Santiago. The thieves temporarily kidnapped the driver and the truck. (Driver kidnappings during truck hijackings are common in Mexico but not in Brazil.)
In another recent incident, robbers shot and killed a truck driver heading to the Chilean coastal city of Viña del Mar. Chile’s trucking chamber, the Chilean Confederation of Truck Owners (CNDC), warned that hijackings increased significantly in 2024 compared to 2023. In many cases, the hijackers used weapons and violence to control passing trucks.
Chile, he said, has become one of the worst hotspots in the world for freight truck hijackings. “The only two countries where kidnappings have increased are Mexico and South Africa,” he explained, referring to his company’s insurance claims patterns.
Armed hijackers willing to use violence to seize control of freight trucks on the road pose a new threat to Chile’s logistics industry. “Violence in these incidents has increased in recent years, accounting for 18% of all incidents,” Finch added.
In Chile, as in Mexico, snacks are one of the main products sought by kidnappers. Food can be easily resold in informal markets and small local shops.
“Food and beverages are by far the most commonly targeted products, accounting for 63% of all theft claims, with metals, electronics and cosmetics also being targeted,” Finch said.
The growing number of freight truck hijackings in Chile could damage the country’s reputation as a safe place for foreign companies to operate. Finch said there is “a growing concern about cargo security” among foreign executives in Chile.
Foreign executives evaluating Chile’s logistics routes should be aware of the increased risk in the urban area surrounding Santiago. “The most dangerous area is around Santiago, including the [nearby cities] of Valparaiso, San Antonio and Rancagua, and all the roads that connect those four cities,” Finch explained. He also warned that the area south of the city of Concepcion is another kidnapping hotspot.
Chile remains much safer than Mexico and many other Latin American countries. In 2023, Chile had a homicide rate of 6.3 per 100,000 population.
Chile recorded 1,247 homicides in 2023, while Mexico, by comparison, recorded 31,062 homicides in 2023. A recent index published by the American Quarterly ranked Chile as the second-best place to invest in short-term investments in Latin America.
Chile will not lose its reputation for safety and stability overnight. But local police and policymakers need to take additional steps to improve Chile’s road safety.
