Machu Picchu train company fined under monopoly law

The Trans-Andean Railway Company, responsible for rail transport to Machu Picchu, has been fined over $185,000 for operating an illegal monopoly. The company has also been ordered to cease its practice of refusing to sublet trains and other equipment that it rents from the state.
According to its contract, it is obliged to rent these units [...]

Huanuco gunfight leaves three police wounded, three missing

A gunfight between Peruvian National Police officers and cattle rustlers in the Huánuco region left three officers injured and three more missing yesterday morning.
The six policemen were dispatched to investigate reports of livestock theft in the community of Palca in the Lauricocha province, where locals had reported a series of thefts.
They were ambushed at around [...]

Grenade and cannabis plantation found in Lima avenue

A fragmentation grenade and more than 200 cannabis plants have been found in an avenue in Lima’s La Victoria region.
Municipal gardeners came across the grenade at about 10am, while tending the plants in the central reservation of San Eugenio Avenue. They immediately alerted police, who called specialist officers from the EDEX “bomb squad” division to [...]

“Robocops” to hit the streets of Peru

At yesterday’s police operation to retake the Santa Anita market in Lima, a number of officers were seen wearing suits of black plastic armor, much to the surprise of commentators and protesters.
Dubbed “robocops” by the press, these are members of the 34th Command or Special Services Unit, and after the new uniform’s successful trial [...]

Peru’s heritage at risk from organized crime

Police officials reported three thefts of religious and cultural heritage yesterday. In Huancayo an ancient bronze church bell was removed from its belfry over night, probably for sale as scrap metal, in the fourth church theft reported in the Mantaro Valley so far this year.
The Mantaro is a popular destination for Peruvian tourists, as [...]

Israeli tourist arrested at Lima airport with 5.2 kilos of cocaine

A 27-year-old Israeli citizen identified as Larissa Blick has been arrested at Lima airport as she boarded a flight to
Madrid. She was found to have 5.2 kilos of pure cocaine concealed in her luggage. She admitted that “some friends” had offered her US$3000 to take the suitcase to
Madrid. 
This comes just days after German Marko Vehit [...]

Coca growers may turn away from cocaine and towards biofuel

Peruvian national anti-drugs group Devida has stated that crops such as sugar cane and oil palm, used for making ecologically safe biofuel, may prove an alternative crop to replace coca in the country’s mountains. Although coca can be grown legally in Peru, over 90% of the annual crop is siphoned off for the illegal production [...]

Amnesty International: Fujimori cannot be trusted

Peru’s Amnesty International Director Ismael Vega has said that it is hard to believe that fugitive ex-President Alberto Fujimori will abide by the decision of the Chilean courts if they rule in favor of his extradition to Peru, given his track record of dishonesty.
“You cannot believe Fujimori. He can say that he will respect the [...]

Death of Peruvian band may have been murder

Victor Valladares, the press liaison for Peruvian music group Néctar, all of whose members were killed yesterday morning in a road accident in Buenos Aires, has claimed that the deaths could be the work of an organized crime syndicate that extorts protection money from singers and bands.
He added that Juan Murillo, the band’s manager and [...]

Problems of youth gangs

“Anyone under 18 is free to commit murder” 
The controversial proposal by Surquillo mayor Gustavo Sierra to punish the parents of children involved in gang activity has met with the approval of Virginia Borra, Minister for Woman and Social Development.
“We need some legal mechanism to stop this. We either have to establish an age limit for [...]