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SANTIAGO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced Monday that two Bolivian soldiers and seven customs officials were arrested on Sunday by Chilean police for allegedly stealing trucks.
In a statement, Bachelet said that "the information is the following: nine people have been detained, they were in Chilean territory committing crimes, they wanted to steal new trucks...and stole one."
"Of these nine people, two were soldiers and the seven others were civilians, Bolivian customs officials," she said, adding that she has had no contact with Bolivia's President Evo Morales or other authorities on the matter.
On Sunday, Morales twitted that "two members of the armed forces and seven customs officials arrested by Chilean police when they were fighting smuggling in Bolivian territory."
He added they were "victims of an injustice" and demanding their "immediate release."
Chile and Bolivia are also involved in territorial disputes.
