Marcelo Leonardo Araya Zapata (born 27 September 1969) is a Chilean police officer and lawyer who has served as General Director of Carabineros de Chile since 27 September 2024.
He was appointed by President Gabriel Boric following the resignation of General Director Ricardo Yáñez.
Early life and education Araya was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, on 27 September 1969. He comes from a family with a tradition of service in Carabineros. He entered the Carabineros School in 1987 and graduated as a second lieutenant the following year.
Alongside his police career, Araya studied law at Bernardo O'Higgins University, obtaining his law degree in 2016. His academic training also includes diploma programmes in public management, security, law and disaster risk management.
He has also taught at the Carabineros School, the institution's training and professional development centres and the Academy of Police Sciences, teaching subjects including law enforcement, criminal law, intelligence, institutional doctrine, police sciences and public-order control.
Police career Araya began his career as a second lieutenant at the 19th Police Station in Providencia in 1989. In 1991, he completed an instructors' course and subsequently served as an instructor at Carabineros training institutions. During the 1990s, he also held assignments within the institution's intelligence and analysis departments.
After attending the Academy of Police Sciences, Araya served as commissioner of the 1st Police Station in Iquique in 2007. In 2009, as a lieutenant colonel, he became head of drug-control operations for northern Chile. He later served as prefect of the El Loa Prefecture and as head of the Vehicle Search and Orders Department.
Araya subsequently held a series of senior administrative and operational positions. He served as director of Internal Affairs and, in 2017, became secretary-general of Carabineros. In 2018, he was appointed police attaché at the Chilean embassy in Peru. He later served as a regional commander in Coquimbo and Antofagasta, and as head of Public Order Control in the southern macrozone.
In 2020, Araya was appointed head of the National Directorate of Order and Security, one of the institution's principal operational commands. In 2022, with the rank of General Inspector, he became General Deputy Director of Carabineros, making him the second-highest-ranking officer in the institution under General Director Ricardo Yáñez.
General Director of Carabineros On 27 September 2024, President Gabriel Boric accepted the resignation of Ricardo Yáñez and appointed Araya as his successor as General Director of Carabineros de Chile. At the time of his appointment, Araya had completed 36 years of service and was serving as General Deputy Director.
His appointment was formalised by Supreme Decree No. 308 of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security, which placed him in command of Carabineros with effect from 27 September 2024. The decree also awarded him the President of the Republic Decoration in the grade of Collar of the Grand Cross.
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