Chileans arrested in California suburb days after LAPD forms task force to counter transnational crime ring

Arrest of Chilean Nationals in California Suburb Highlights Transnational Crime

Police arrested three men from Chile on Friday in the quiet California suburban town of Irvine, just days after the Los Angeles Police Department formed a task force to address an international crime ring targeting luxury homes in the U.S.

The arrests came after a recent spike in home robberies in Irvine, a relatively low crime area in Orange County that is about 40 miles south of Los Angeles.

Irvine police officers had been conducting surveillance work when a “suspicious vehicle” near Boomer Canyon caught their attention.

Police said the three men arrested were Chilean nationals who had no reason to be in Irvine. (Irvine Police Department)

Police said there were three men inside the car who “were not from the area and appeared to have no reason to be in Irvine.”

The driver sped off when officers tried to stop them. Eventually, officers were able to stop the car and search inside. Officers found burglary tools, pet deterrent, shoe covers, and masks.

“Based on the totality of circumstances, the trio appeared to be casing the area to commit residential burglaries and were arrested for conspiracy to commit burglary, providing false information to a police officer, and possession of burglary tools,” Irvine police said in a statement.

Police identified the three men as Julio Cordova-Martinez, 55, Ricardo Navarete-Loyola, 19, and Leopoldo Jara-Araya, 57. All three of them were Chilean nationals and booked at the Orange County Jail (OCJ).

Their arrest comes amid a rise in transnational crime groups entering the U.S. by taking advantage of a State Department travel program to case out affluent U.S. neighborhoods and ransack homes for profit.

Last week, the Los Angeles Police Department formed a task force to counter these groups. The majority of participants in these gangs are coming from Chile, but law enforcement has seen nationals from other South American countries, including Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

Irvine police arrested the trio from Chilean Friday evening. (Irvine Police Department)

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has been warning about this issue since at least summer, calling the burglaries “carefully calculated and planned.”

Spitzer has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration for failing to respond to public records requests involving documentation on the issue.

Irvine has seen an uptick in home burglaries, with more than 30 in as many days, though it is believed only around seven of these were related to transnational criminal gangs.

The problem has not been confined to California either, as similar crimes have been reported in Michigan, New Jersey, and New York, among other states.

These crimes have been enabled thanks to Chile being part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows tourists and business travelers to enter America for 90 days or less without having to obtain a visa or go through a thorough vetting process.

Fox News Digital’s Mike Ruiz contributed to this report.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article discusses the arrest of three men involved in an international crime ring targeting luxury homes in Irvine, California. This issue relates to SDG 16 as it addresses peace, justice, and strong institutions by addressing transnational crime and ensuring the safety and security of communities. Additionally, it connects to SDG 11 as it highlights the need for sustainable cities and communities by addressing the rise in home robberies and the need for effective law enforcement.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime
• SDG 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green, and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities

The specific targets identified based on the article’s content are SDG 16.4, which aims to reduce organized crime and illicit flows of assets, and SDG 11.7, which focuses on providing safe and inclusive spaces for communities.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of arrests made in connection with transnational crime rings
• Number of recovered stolen assets
• Number of reported home robberies
• Number of safe and inclusive public spaces in communities

The article mentions the arrests made in connection with the transnational crime ring, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 16.4. The recovery of stolen assets can also serve as an indicator for this target. The article also highlights the rise in home robberies, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards SDG 11.7. Additionally, the provision of safe and inclusive public spaces can be measured as an indicator for this target.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: foxnews.com

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