Peru declares a 60-day state of emergency across five maximum-security prisons...

Peru declares a 60-day state of emergency across five maximum-security prisons to stop organized crime groups from directing operations from inside jail. The decree covers Challapalca, Cochamarca, Miguel Castro Castro, Ancón I, and Trujillo Varones, which together hold about half of Peru’s inmates linked to organized crime. Police take control with military support, while security powers extend to a 200-metre perimeter, airspace, and communications monitoring. The move follows rising homicide rates, major criminal attacks, and President Keiko Fujimori’s broader push for tougher anti-gang laws.

Saturday, 5 September, 2026