The criminal group known as “Los Quimicos’’ (“The Chemists”) has finally been dismantled in Bogota, Colombia. This group has long been involved in the production and sale of synthetic drugs, particularly Tusi. It Is the first time in Bogota, Colombia that a Tusi lab has been dismantled during a raid.
The operation was carried out by the Metropolitan Police in the Puente Aranda district after the community reported frequent sightings of suspicious individuals at a residence, causing concerns among the neighbors.
The location operated as a makeshift lab where veterinary medications such as ketamine were used to create hallucinogenic, depressant and stimulant mixtures that could cause severe harm to consumers–-such as nervous system disruptions and cardiac arrest. According to authorities, the medication was arriving from Peru on buses to circumvent border and police controls.
The profits behind synthetic drugs
Each bottle of ketamine, which sells for around 180,000 pesos (US$45) on the black market, was used by the criminal group to produce up to 20 Tusi pills, each selling for nearly 100,000 pesos (US$25). The distribution of these drugs was conducted on a small scale either at the residence itself or through telephone orders that were later delivered to public establishments in northern Bogota.
During the raid, police seized seven pounds of marijuana, 162 boxes of ketamine, 40 bags of a pink substances presumed to be Tusi, as well as supplies for its production–digital scales, approximately 8 million pesos (US$2,000) in cash and a bill counting machine.
Who was arrested during the tusi lab raid in Bogota?
The raid is known to be part of a strategy called “Safe Walk Bogota” led by the Metropolitan Police. Five people involved in the artisanal production of synthetic drugs were arrested.
Among those arrested was the alleged leader of the criminal organization, a man with a background in pharmaceutical chemistry who used his expertise to oversee the handmade production process. Also detained was a woman with a criminal record for theft, fraud and assault.
Authorities reported that a judge ordered preventive measures for the five individuals arrested. Three women were placed under house arrest due to their status as single mothers, while two men were sent to a prison facility.
Colombia continues to forge ahead in the battle against drug trafficking. So far this year, the Bogota Metropolitan Police has seized 7,362 units of synthetic drugs. This is an alarming figure that reflects the authorities’ efforts to combat the trafficking and consumption of these substances, which can have serious public health consequences.
Actions to intercept these drugs are crucial for protecting the community and reducing access to these harmful substances. In addition, interventions like this, help raise awareness about the dangers of synthetic drug use and promote prevention and treatment programs.