Reincidencia y trayectoria criminal del crimen organizado en Chile. Narcotraficantes, seguimiento longitudinal años 2004-2022

Organized crime is one of the main concerns of States, and although its manifestations are diverse, illicit drug trafficking is one of the most typical and important activities. The objective of this research was to understand the criminal trajectories of all those arrested and reported by the Chilean Carabineros between 2004 and 2022 for drug trafficking, including recidivism, types of offenses, age/crime curve, career length, and level of versatility or specialization. The methodology used is longitudinal and retrospective. Of the 38,320 detainees and reported offenders, 85.2% were repeat offenders, accumulating a total of 340,937 offenses (M=8.8; SD=11.3; range: 1 to 291). 47.9% were multiple repeat offenders, committing six or more offenses. Their criminal careers began later than in common crime, and there was a greater prevalence of serious offenses. Specialization in drug offenses was high. Women are significantly involved in this type of crime and desist later. These drug traffickers come in different forms, which should be considered when implementing public policies.