Policia de Investigaciones

The Policía de Investigaciones de Chile (PDI) is Chile’s national civilian investigative police force, founded in 1933 and operating under the Ministry of the Interior. Its primary mission is criminal investigation, intelligence gathering, forensic analysis, and the fight against organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, and financial offenses. Distinct from the uniformed Carabineros, the PDI focuses on judicial police work and works closely with prosecutors and the courts, playing a central role in Chile’s internal security and law-enforcement system.

PDI also operates an aviation service that provides critical airborne support for investigative and operational missions across Chile’s vast and geographically diverse territory. Its aircraft and helicopters are used for surveillance, rapid deployment of tactical units, transport of personnel and evidence, border and coastal monitoring, and support to special operations. Aviation assets significantly enhance PDI’s ability to operate in remote regions—from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia—while also supporting national emergencies and inter-agency missions, making air operations a key force multiplier for Chile’s investigative police.