Policia de Investigaciones de Chile

What Policia de Investigaciones de Chile does

Policía de Investigaciones de Chile (PDI) is Chile's primary criminal investigation police force, established in 1933 and operating under the Ministry of Interior and Security Public. The institution holds exclusive statutory authority under DFL 1/1980 for specialized criminal investigations, forensic analysis, cybercrime, anti-corruption, organized crime, and immigration control, serving Chilean citizens, foreign residents and tourists, and acting as Chile's National Central Bureau to Interpol. PDI operates a nationwide territorial footprint including the Cuartel General in Santiago, specialized brigades for homicide, economic crimes, sexual crimes, environmental crimes, human trafficking, and organized crime, a network of 16 forensic laboratories (one central plus 15 regional) delivering 192 certified forensic services across 16 specialties under ISO 9001 with ongoing migration to ISO 17025, and dedicated national units for cybercrime (Jenaciber, est. March 2022), criminal analysis (JENANCRI, est. 2015), anti-corruption (Briacmet, est. 2016), and explosive device deactivation (TEDAX).

The institution's core technology stack comprises forensic science laboratories covering DNA analysis, ballistics, chemistry, microbiology, telecommunications forensics, and digital forensics; a strategic criminal analysis function processing large volumes of crime data for pattern detection and relationship identification; and dedicated cybercrime investigation platforms operating under Law N°21.459 aligned with the Budapest Convention. PDI has been ranked Chile's best-evaluated institution by citizens for two consecutive years per CEP survey, reflecting strong public trust and brand legitimacy.

As a Chilean government entity, PDI does not operate a commercial revenue model. Funding flows from the national government budget under the Ministry of Interior and Security Public; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Services to citizens — including Denuncia Seguro (anonymous online crime reporting), travel certificates, residency validity certification, salvage conductos, AutoSeguro registration, Easter Island entry forms, and missing persons search — are provided free of charge or at nominal administrative fees. Go-to-market is therefore not commercial: distribution is through direct service at police stations, an online procedures portal, the national 134 emergency line, specialized investigation units, and Interpol channels. Revenue (if disclosed) is best understood as government appropriation.

Name

Policia de Investigaciones de Chile

Legal name

Policía de Investigaciones de Chile

Website

https://pdichile.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Policía de Investigaciones de Chile (PDI) is Chile's primary criminal investigation police force, established in 1933, providing nationwide forensic analysis, cybercrime, anti-corruption, and immigration services to citizens, foreign residents, and government institutions under the Ministry of Interior and Security Public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Law Enforcement Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611), Investigation and Security Services (5616)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Fraud Investigations & Claims Support (Insurance/Financial) (BPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Criminal investigation services
• Forensic laboratory analysis
• Cybercrime investigation
• Law enforcement services
• Immigration control services

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Policía de Investigaciones de Chile (PDI) is Chile's primary criminal investigation police force, conducting criminal investigations, forensic analysis, cybercrime response, anti-corruption probes, organized crime disruption, missing persons searches, and immigration control. It operates 16 forensic laboratory sections delivering 192 certified services (DNA, ballistics, toxicology, digital forensics), the JENANCRI intelligence analysis unit, the Jenaciber National Cybercrime Headquarters, anti-corruption brigades, the Interpol NCB for Chile, and a portfolio of online administrative services for citizens and foreigners (travel certificates, residency validity, Salvoconducto, AutoSeguro, Easter Island FUI, tourism card duplicates, document loss records).

Product overview

Policía de Investigaciones de Chile (PDI) is Chile's primary criminal investigation police force offering a portfolio of public administrative services and specialized investigative capabilities. The service portfolio consists of online administrative services for citizens (Denuncia Seguro, certificates, residence permits, travel documents, vehicle insurance), a missing persons database, a podcast series on criminal psychology, and specialized investigative units including forensic science laboratories (Laboratorio de Criminalística with 192 certified services across 16 specialties), the National Criminal Analysis Bureau (JENANCRI), the National Cybercrime Bureau (Jenaciber), anti-corruption units, and Interpol cooperation. The institution operates 16 regional forensic laboratories and numerous specialized brigades covering organized crime, homicide, sexual crimes, economic crimes, environmental crimes, human trafficking, and digital forensics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Denuncia Seguro Secure and anonymous online crime reporting platform allowing citizens to report crimes via the web.
• Certificado de Viajes Document certifying entry and exit records of a person from Chile from 1981 to present, issued to Chilean or foreign nationals for various administrative purposes.
• Vigencia Residencia Definitiva Service for verifying the validity of permanent residence status for foreigners, available for both Metropolitan Region and other regions.
• AutoSeguro Online service for foreign residents to manage vehicle insurance documentation and related administrative procedures.
• Salvoconducto Safe conduct permit service for permanent foreign residents requiring travel authorization.
• Duplicado de Tarjeta de Turismo Service for obtaining a duplicate tourism card for foreign visitors.
• Constancia de Pérdida de Documento Official loss report document for lost identification papers, primarily for tourists.
• Formulario Único de Ingreso a Isla de Pascua (FUI) Required entry form for travel to Easter Island, managed by PDI Migraciones.
• Personas Extraviadas (Missing Persons Search) Missing persons database and search service featuring profiles of missing individuals across Chile to aid in location efforts.
• El Más Buscado: Un Podcast PDI Podcast series exploring criminal psychology, case studies, and investigations conducted by PDI, available on Spotify and YouTube.
• Laboratorio de Criminalística (Forensic Laboratory) Central and regional forensic laboratories providing 192 certified forensic services across 16 specialties including DNA analysis, ballistics, toxicology, and digital forensics to support criminal investigations.
• Jefatura Nacional de Análisis Criminal (JENANCRI) National criminal analysis unit serving as the analytical brain of PDI, processing large volumes of data on crimes, criminals, and criminal organizations to detect patterns and identify relationships.
• Jefatura Nacional de Cibercrimen (Jenaciber) National cybercrime unit overseeing cybercrime investigation brigades in Santiago, Valparaíso, and Concepción, plus the Digital Forensics Department, focused on cybercrimes under Law N° 21.459.
• Brigada Investigadora Anticorrupción (Briacmet) Anti-corruption brigade investigating public economic corruption crimes including fiscal fraud, embezzlement, bribery, incompatible negotiation, and influence trafficking.
• Interpol National Central Bureau (Chile) Chile's connection to Interpol, facilitating international police cooperation and communication for cross-border criminal investigations across 195 member countries.
• Brigada Presidencial La Moneda Presidential brigade located at Palacio de La Moneda providing liaison and coordination between PDI and the Chilean Executive branch.

Quantifiable outcome

• 192 certified forensic services across 16 specializations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Perú - Policía Nacional del PerúcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2026V Reunión de Altos Mandos Policiales, Oficiales y Unidades especializadas de Perú-Chile (RAMPOL). Director General of PDI traveled to Lima for bilateral cooperation meeting to strengthen cooperation against organized crime.
• United Nations (UNCOPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2026Director General Eduardo Cerna Lozano participated in the 5th Summit of Heads of Police of the United Nations (UNCOPS V) at UN headquarters in New York. Reinforces international cooperation commitment and global security engagement.
• PACCTO (Programa de Apoyo a la Consolidación del Sistema de Justicia Penal en Chile)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026PDI hosted international seminar on illicit asset recovery in collaboration with PACCTO. Regional cooperation initiative for asset recovery from criminal activities.
• FBI (Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center - TEDAC)coreTechnology or Integration · 22 June 2026Brigada TEDAX (Explosive Device Deactivation) participated in a working session with FBI's TEDAC. Exchange of investigative methodologies and response protocols for explosive devices. Agreement reached for future advanced training program led by US instructors. Significant step in technical specialization for high-complexity explosive threats.
• InterpolcoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational criminal police organization enabling fugitive tracking, stolen property recovery, and intelligence sharing across 195 member countries. PDI serves as Interpol's National Central Bureau for Chile.
• Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrigada de Relaciones Exteriores maintains direct channel with the Foreign Ministry, advising on international security and migration matters. Coordinates security requirements for diplomatic authorities. Since June 2018, offices located within the Ministry building.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Guardia Civil (Spain): Spain's gendarmerie-style national force with nationwide criminal investigation, judicial police, and forensic capabilities. Comparable structural model (civilian-controlled, investigative mandate, territorial brigades) common to Iberian-influenced legal systems like Chile's.
• Australian Federal Police: Australia's federal investigative agency responsible for serious and organized crime, cybercrime, and international cooperation. Operates a national forensic and intelligence-analysis capability comparable in scope to PDI's Jenacrim and Jenaciber units.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP): Canada's national federal police with integrated forensic labs, intelligence analysis units, cybercrime investigation, and Interpol NCB functions. Highly comparable functional architecture (forensic lab network, intelligence analysis headquarters, organized-crime and cybercrime branches).
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The U.S. federal investigative agency with statutory jurisdiction over federal crimes, intelligence analysis, forensic services, and cybercrime. PDI's Brigada TEDAX signed a methodology-exchange agreement with FBI's TEDAC, positioning FBI as a higher-scale investigative peer with comparable functional domains.

Regional players

• Policía Nacional Civil (El Salvador): El Salvador's national civilian investigative police force operating with a model very similar to PDI (civilian-controlled, investigative mandate, separate from military). Comparable Latin American institutional design and comparable scope of forensic and investigative units.
• Policía Nacional (Spain): Spain's national police force with shared jurisdiction over criminal investigation, immigration documentation, and judicial police functions. Operates outside the Americas but follows a comparable legal/civilian investigative mandate and provides the closest European functional equivalent to PDI.

Direct peers

• Polícia Federal do Brasil: Brazil's federal investigative police with nationwide jurisdiction over complex criminal investigations, cybercrime, and forensic analysis. Comparable mandate and operating scale across Latin America, making it one of the largest functional peers to PDI.
• Policía Nacional del Perú: Peru's national police force with parallel investigative, forensic, and migration functions. PDI engaged in bilateral RAMPOL cooperation meetings with PNP leadership in July 2026, making it the closest functional and regional peer.
• Policía Federal Argentina: Argentina's federal investigative police with nationwide jurisdiction over complex and federal crimes, organized crime units, and forensic laboratories. Operates a comparable mandate (specialized investigations, cybercrime brigades, Interpol NCB) in a neighboring South American jurisdiction.

Others

• Interpol: International police cooperation organization in which PDI serves as Chile's National Central Bureau. Not a competing entity but the structural hub through which PDI's international cooperation (fugitive tracking, stolen goods recovery, intelligence sharing across 195 member countries) is operationalized.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PDI_CHILE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PDIChile
• Facebookfacebook.com/policiadeinvestigaciones
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pdi-polic%C3%ADa-de-investigaciones-de-chile
• Instagraminstagram.com/pdi_chile
• TikToktiktok.com/@pdi_cl

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Policia de Investigaciones de Chile