The Biobío Regional Comptroller has ordered the Talcahuano Customs to open an administrative probe over serious irregularities in controls at Coronel Port. The report identified gaps in oversight, technology use, and management that heighten smuggling risks. The process must start within 15 days, with staffing improvements demonstrated in 60 days.
The audit by Chile's Comptroller General, outlined in Final Report No. 134 of 2025, exposed critical shortcomings at the Talcahuano Regional Customs Directorate. From 2019 to 2023, merchandise entry operations at Coronel Port grew steadily, but without a matching increase in oversight staff. Consequently, in 2023, only 3.5% of Import Declarations (DINs) underwent physical or documentary reviews in the port's primary zone.
A key issue was the underuse of the assigned scanner truck. In 2023, it was absent from the area for 220 days, moved to Los Andes and San Antonio, compounded by a shortage of trained operators. This diminished non-intrusive inspection capabilities at a vital commercial hub.
A notable incident took place on May 10, 2023, when a DIN was accepted using code G-09 from an agent who had died on April 27 of that year, highlighting flaws in identity verification. Furthermore, goods have lingered in the port's customs warehouse since 2010, 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022, awaiting auction, destruction, or donation, signaling bottlenecks in disposal processes.
The absence of an IT tool for online verification of approvals from other agencies leads to manual checks and higher error rates. In response, the Comptroller granted 15 business days to launch the probe and assign administrative responsibilities. Within 60 days, the directorate must provide evidence of staffing boosts and control measures to enhance technology management, bolstering security across Maule, Ñuble, Biobío, and La Araucanía regions, focusing on illicit goods detection.