An increasing number of countries across Latin America and the Caribbean are reporting instances of ketamine trafficking, indicating a regional shift in drug markets fueled by the emergence of synthetic drug cocktails and diversified supply chains.
On August 3, Chile’s Regional Prosecutor’s Office convicted 17 individuals involved in an organization that transported ketamine from Peru to Chile. Investigators revealed that couriers crossed the Tacna-Arica border on foot and subsequently traveled via domestic flights to supply drug markets in the Metropolitan Region, according to local reports.
A few weeks earlier, on July 13, the Arica Court reaffirmed convictions for 18 members of another network trafficking ketamine between the two countries. This group included nationals from Peru, Chile, Venezuela, and Ecuador, with some allegedly linked to the Ecuadorian criminal group Los Lobos, though authorities have not confirmed details.
These cases exemplify a broader regional trend. Ketamine, primarily used as a medical anesthetic, is increasingly entering illicit markets due to its prevalence in synthetic drug mixtures, as highlighted in the latest United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report.
While Latin America represents just 5% of global ketamine seizures, the number of countries detecting its illicit trade has risen significantly, from zero between 2006 and 2010 to 20 between 2021 and 2025, according to UNODC data.
The Rise of “Polysubstances”
For decades, ketamine held a peripheral role in Latin America’s drug markets. Its recreational use, dating to its 1960s medical introduction, was limited to small consumer networks with minimal organized crime involvement.
Current demand has surged alongside synthetic drug markets. Mixtures containing multiple substances—termed polysubstances or “designer drugs”—are increasingly common. These blends are formulated to bypass regulations and amplify traditional drugs’ effects.
In Latin America, such mixtures include “tusi,” originally referencing the compound 2C-B but now typically a blend of ketamine, MDMA, amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, and pharmaceutical painkillers like paracetamol. Other popular combinations include MDMA-ketamine “speedballs” and Chile’s “Calvin Klein,” a cocaine-ketamine mix.
“Ketamine is a trendy drug and is highly sought after at electronic music parties. This has also helped it spread among urban audiences,” explained Pablo Zeballos, an organized crime expert and former Chilean security official. “Chile has emerged as a major consumer market, driven by purchasing power and the premium pricing of synthetics.”
Low Barriers to Entry
Rising demand aligns with ketamine’s accessibility advantages over other illicit substances. Since it exists as a regulated medication, traffickers often divert it from legal supply chains rather than producing it clandestinely. Methods include theft from veterinary facilities, collusion with distributors, fraudulent purchases, forged prescriptions, or illegal cross-border imports.
Varying regulations between countries simplify trafficking. Peru, for instance, permits broader ketamine sales than neighboring nations, making it a key source for Chile and Ecuador. Similarly, Nicaragua facilitates Central American distribution, according to Diego Chavarría of Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency.
Transportation leverages existing infrastructure. Liquid ketamine—nicknamed “water” for its transparency—can be hidden in everyday containers. It may also be crystallized into powder for compact transport. In July, Chilean police dismantled a lab in Temuco where liquid ketamine was processed into 100,000 doses.
“Up to 40 doses can be obtained from one gram of ketamine, which is uncommon with other drugs,” Zeballos noted.
Large shipments traverse land routes via cargo trucks or fishing vessels, while smaller quantities move through couriers on commercial flights. In March, Mexico’s security cabinet reported the seizure of 2.6 kilograms of crystallized ketamine at Cancún International Airport, concealed in a passenger’s carry-on luggage from Bogotá.
Recent shipments of South American ketamine also reached European ports, including a Chilean Navy operation intercepting 69 metric tons of drugs—including ketamine—in wood and rubber cargo bound for Germany and Italy.
A Highly Fragmented Supply Chain
No single criminal group dominates the ketamine supply chain, enabling diverse actors—from large syndicates to independent networks—to participate. This fragmentation reflects low entry barriers and decentralized operations.
“The ketamine market operates under polyarchy conditions, with different groups functioning as complementary links rather than competitors,” Zeballos observed.
Cross-border networks often involve multiple nationalities. In Chile, convicted traffickers included Peruvian, Chilean, Venezuelan, and Ecuadorian nationals. Another Argentina-based network involved Paraguayan, Chilean, and Argentine operatives. Larger groups like Colombia’s Los Costeños have established routes between South America and Chile via Peru, while Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua exploits migrant couriers to dominate regional distribution.
Local distribution varies: in Medellín, small-scale producers supply major gangs linked to entities like La Oficina de Envigado. Costa Rica’s distribution, however, relies on retail-focused gangs unaffiliated with international drug trafficking operations.
Authorities at Cancún International Airport in Mexico seized 2.6 kilograms of crystallized ketamine trafficked in carry-on luggage on a flight from Bogotá, Colombia. Source: Mexico’s Security Cabinet.
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