Chile pushes new laws to tackle organized crime

Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast has announced a sweeping legislative drive to combat organized crime, renewing a key campaign pledge amid rising public concern over security.

In a televised national address on Wednesday, Kast said more than 30 bills—some already before Congress—would reshape how Chile confronts criminal networks, with additional proposals to be submitted in the coming days.

“Together, these measures will transform our response to organized crime,” he said, stressing the need for stronger legal tools and institutional coordination.

Although Chile remains one of the safest countries in Latin America, it has seen a steady rise in homicides and kidnappings in recent years. Authorities attribute much of the increase to the growing presence of transnational gangs, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua.

The homicide rate reached 5.4 per 100,000 people in 2025—roughly double the level recorded a decade ago.

Kast also unveiled plans for a constitutional reform to formalise the state’s duty to guarantee public security. The proposed changes would expand the government’s legal authority, including making membership in a criminal organisation a standalone offence subject to harsher penalties.

He further pledged tougher punishments for groups that recruit minors, signalling a stricter approach to dismantling gang networks.

The announcement comes as Kast faces mounting criticism over the pace of progress in tackling crime. In response, he recently accepted the resignation of his first security minister, former prosecutor Trinidad Steinert, just 69 days into her tenure.