Chilean military personnel detained five Bolivian soldiers who entered national territory near the Salar de Coipasa.
The incident occurred on June 18 2026 when observers in Colchane detected a caravan of vehicles. Carabineros patrols intercepted the Bolivian military personnel 500 meters inside Chile.
Seized items included a military Toyota Land Cruiser without license plates, five pistols, one war rifle with ammunition, three CS gas cartridges and one hand grenade. The detainees were taken to the Colchane subcommissary.
Chilean authorities found no link to crimes such as smuggling. The weapons and vehicle will be returned to Bolivia through diplomatic channels, while the five soldiers will be returned to the neighboring country under a protocol coordinated with the PDI.
