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Peruvian security crisis

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2021-2025 Peruvian security crisis
Part of Peruvian political crisis (2016-present)
Date2021 - present
Location
Lima Metropolitan Area, Peru
Result State of emergency imposed in metro Lima (March 2025)
Belligerents

Peru:
Peruvian Armed Forces


Ministry of Interior

Gangs
Commanders and leaders
Peru Pedro Castillo
(2021 - 2022)
Peru Dina Boluarte
(December 2022-2025)
Peru José Jerí (2025-)		 Various
Strength
130,000+ Unknown

The Peruvian security crisis[1][2] is a period marked by a sustained increase of criminality, urban violence, transnational organized crime and a general perception of urban insecurity. The situation has affected several regions of the country, including Lima province,[3] La Libertad,[4][5] Piura,[6] Loreto[7] and Callao,[8] and has affected diverse sectors such as mining, business, transport, music and education.

Between 2021 and 2025, indices of homicide, extortion, and violent crimes increased significantly. According to the Public Ministry of Peru, more than 22835 cases of extortion were reported in 2024, a 379.62% increase from 2021[9]; and there was a doubling in homicides since before the pandemic.[10] At the same time, criminal gangs, such as Tren de Aragua expanded their presence and operations in Peru.[11][12]

Events

[edit]

Since 2021, there has been a steady increase in crime and drug trafficking rates,[1][13] ​ following the decrease in cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, crime levels began to rise, and by 2022 the downward trend had reversed, with crime rates beginning to exceed pre-pandemic levels.[14] It was reported that reported criminal acts increased by 18% in 2021 compared to 2020.[15] The rise in crime prompted then-President Pedro Castillo to decree the deployment of the military to the streets of Lima and Callao in support of the police in November 2021.[16] That month, cases of extortion against transport workers were reported, with drivers being forced to pay 5 soles daily.[17] The following month, he announced a 20% increase in police personnel to strengthen public safety.[18] In response to the extortion cases, Interior Minister Avelino Guillén announced that demanding protection money would be classified as a crime. "extortion terrorism".[19][20]

In February 2022, Supreme Decree 012-2022-PCM declared a 45-day state of emergency in Lima and Callao to combat crime.[21][22] Castillo announced the deployment of the military to combat common crime, asserting that the police had the capacity to fight it.[23] However, Prime Minister Aníbal Torres declared that "the police have been vastly outmatched by crime."[24] Furthermore, the executive branch sent a bill to Congress prohibiting two people from riding on a motorcycle.[25] At that time, an increase in the number of extortion cases was reported nationwide, with Lima, Callao, and Trujillo being the areas where these crimes were most prevalent. In addition, the murder of transport workers and attacks on those who did not pay were reported,[26] as well as the murder and extortion of sex workers.[27]

In December 2024, it was reported that 19,432 cases of extortion was reported throughout Peru.[28] Peruvian extortion rates have increased severely since 2017, with more then 2000 cases per month reported in 2025.[29]

In March 2025, President Dina Boluarte declared a state of emergency in Lima and Callao, after the murder of singer Paul Flores.[30]

In May 2025, 13 gold miners were killed in Pataz province, leading to the government imposing a temporary ban on mining in the region.[31]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Perú 21 (2022-07-30). "Delincuencia y narcotráfico crecieron a sus anchas en primer año de Castillo". peru21.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ CEPLAN (2024). "Exacerbación de la criminalidad".
  3. ^ Peruano de Economía (IPE), Instituto (2023-10-23). "IPE: la inseguridad y los delitos en Lima alcanzaron su punto máximo en los últimos siete años" (in Spanish). El Comercio. ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  4. ^ Salazar Herrada, Esteban (2024-12-09). "Pataz, la nueva 'meca' del oro ilegal del mundo: así operan sin control las mafias mineras del Perú con solo un papel del REINFO". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  5. ^ Silva, David Solar (2025-01-25). "Ola de delincuencia en Trujillo: regidor denuncia falta de resguardo policial en la ciudad y plantea toque de queda". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  6. ^ Ruiz, Ralph Zapata (2024-09-15). "Aumento de la delincuencia en Piura revela falta de una estrategia eficaz". Norte Sostenible (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  7. ^ Gómez Vega, Renzo (2025-05-07). "El asesinato de un reconocido periodista peruano desata una oleada de protestas en Iquitos". El País América (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  8. ^ RedacciónRPP (2023-04-13). "¿Cuál es la situación de la criminalidad en el Callao y cómo afrontar el sicariato en la región? | RPP Noticias". rpp.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  9. ^ Chumpitaz, Óscar (2025-02-06). "En los últimos 3 años se quintuplicaron las denuncias por extorsión". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  10. ^ Espinoza, Analí (2025-01-17). "Cifra de homicidios en Perú aumentó más del 100% desde la prepandemia: el auge de la extorsión y sicariato desata la alarma". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  11. ^ Ardiles, Abby (2023-07-26). "Red criminal 'Tren de Aragua' se extiende de forma imparable en Perú: ya están en 10 regiones". El Comercio (in Spanish). ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  12. ^ Vega, Renzo Gómez (2025-02-22). "Los Pulpos, la banda de cuatro hermanos que siembra el terror en Perú y Chile". El País Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-31.
  13. ^ Pérez, Por Jossie (2022-05-29). "Robos, asaltos y sicariato: el gran problema que gobierna el Perú". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  14. ^ "Documento de política pública: "Una tormenta perfecta: La seguridad ciudadana en el Perú después de la pandemia❞". Escuela de Gobierno y Políticas Públicas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  15. ^ "Delincuencia en Perú: Cada hora se registran 11 delitos, entre robos y asaltos agravados". infobae (in European Spanish). 2022-03-20. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  16. ^ Fuentes, Fernando (2021-11-02). "Perú saca a las calles a militares en apoyo de la policía por el "incremento significativo" de la delincuencia". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  17. ^ "Extorsiones en Lima y Callao se multiplican: Criminales cobran desde 5 soles hasta 10 mil soles a víctimas". infobae (in European Spanish). 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  18. ^ "Presidente Pedro Castillo anuncia incremento de policías en las calles para fortalecer la seguridad". elperuano.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  19. ^ Arango, Melissa Barrenechea (2021-12-24). "2021: Balance del año en inseguridad ciudadana". rpp.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  20. ^ "Ministro Guillén: Queremos tipificar el cobro de cupos como "terrorismo extorsivo"". www.gob.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  21. ^ PERÚ, Empresa Peruana de Servicios Editoriales S. A. EDITORA (2022-02-02). "Oficializan declaratoria de estado de emergencia en Lima y Callao". andina.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  22. ^ "Pedro Castillo declara Estado de Emergencia en Lima Metropolitana y Callao". infobae (in European Spanish). 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  23. ^ RedacciónRPP (2022-02-14). "Pedro Castillo: "Vamos a sacar a las Fuerzas Armadas para combatir la delincuencia" | RPP Noticias". rpp.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  24. ^ Gestión, Redacción (2022-02-22). "Aníbal Torres: "La Policía Nacional ha sido superada amplísimamente por la delincuencia"". Gestión (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-20.
  25. ^ LR, Sociedad (2022-02-17). "Ejecutivo envía al Congreso proyecto de ley que prohíbe 2 pasajeros en una moto lineal". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  26. ^ Medrano Marin, Hernán (2022-02-26). "La extorsión se extiende por todo el país: aumentan casos de amenazas y represalias violentas". El Comercio (in Spanish). ISSN 1605-3052.
  27. ^ Raffo, Francesca (2022-02-24). "Asesinato a trabajadoras sexuales: ¿Qué hay detrás de la violencia y la mafia de cobro de cupos?". El Comercio (in Spanish). ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  28. ^ Chumpitaz, Óscar (2024-12-29). "Denuncias por extorsiones llegaron a su cifra más alta en Perú: 19.432 casos". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  29. ^ "Gangs Terrorize Peru in an Epidemic of Extortion". 2025-06-10. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  30. ^ Marina, Diego Lopez (2025-03-20). "Peru declares State of Emergency in Lima and Callao amid rising crime rates". Perú Reports. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  31. ^ Collyns, Dan (2025-05-05). "Gold mining suspended in Peru's north after 13 miners killed". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
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