Detectives in Carahue arrested two men on Friday linked to the radical group Weichan Auka Mapu over a 2022 killing.
Did You Know? The ongoing investigation into the homicide of Manuel Huenupil Antileo stems from events on May 5, 2022, near the La Suerte forestry estate in Carahue.
The arrests happened in the urban-rural boundary of Carahue during an operation by the Prefectura Macrozona Sur of the Policía de Investigaciones. Personnel from the Jefatura Nacional de Defensa Nacional del Ejército provided security in the surrounding area.
Both suspects face investigation for their alleged roles in the homicide of Manuel Huenupil Antileo. Investigators state the fatal attack occurred during a territorial claim and timber extraction dispute, when armed members of Weichan Auka Mapu arrived at the site.
Following the crime, the suspects hid in properties across Carahue and Arauco to dodge law enforcement. Police intelligence and field tracking ultimately pinpointed their movements before executing the capture without incident.
Detenidos y sentencias en el caso de Carahue
The sweep brings the total number of detainees in this specific case to 13 individuals. Out of that total, five people have received sentences of 16 years in prison.
The two newly captured men will appear before the Juzgado de Letras y Garantía de Carahue for their detention control and formalization hearing. Meanwhile, four other defendants remain formally charged, with two awaiting a trial scheduled for December.
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Official Reactions to the Arrests
Public Security Minister Martín Arrau praised the joint operation carried out by the police and the military. He described the suspects as prioritized fugitives who had evaded the law for years.
“Dos personas que desde 2022 evadían la justicia estaban siendo buscadas por homicidio y pertenecían a una organización de carácter terrorista. Esta es la acción decidida del Estado. Seguiremos trabajando para detener uno por uno a estos prófugos priorizados de la macrozona sur para que enfrenten la justicia y le demos más tranquilidad a esa zona terrorista”, said Martín Arrau, Minister of Public Security, via BioBioChile.
Preguntas frecuentes sobre el homicidio de Manuel Huenupil Antileo
When did the homicide of Manuel Huenupil Antileo occur?
The crime took place on May 5, 2022, in the vicinity of the La Suerte forestry estate in Carahue.
Which security forces participated in the operation?
Detectives from the Prefectura Macrozona Sur of the Policía de Investigaciones carried out the arrests, while personnel from the Jefatura Nacional de Defensa Nacional del Ejército provided security in the surrounding area.
How many total suspects have been detained in this case?
Authorities have arrested a total of 13 individuals in connection with the homicide, including five people who have already been sentenced to 16 years in prison.