Six arrested during anti-drug raid in Cerro Navia

SANTIAGO.- Six people were arrested and more than 600 units of various drugs were seized during a major operation performed by special units of the National Police force in two neighborhoods of Cerro Navia.

Police managed to raid homes belonging to a gang known as "Los Morales", which had been operating for a year within the "Las Viñitas" and "Federico Santa María" neighborhoods, where the group had established two laboratories dedicated to manufacturing marijuana, cocaine and "pasta base".

The operation, which was dubbed "Todo Navia" began at approximately 6:00AM today and included the participation of close to 50 law enforcement officers, who entered five homes on the streets Nocedal and La Hondonada in the "Las Viñitas" neighborhood and Calle La Tavira in "Federico Santa María".

Neighbors attacked police as well as members of the press as 1 million pesos in cash, two blenders, a scale, a laptop computer and a revolver were seized.

Among those arrested was the leader of the gang, identified as 28 year-old Manuel Antonio Olavarría Hernández, who possesses a prior criminal record for robbery.

Police Force Major Marcelo Arévalo, assured that, in addition to Olavarría, the group of drug traffickers was mainly made up of a family that had recently moved to the neighborhoods with the sole intention of selling narcotics.