In brief
Across Peru, communities are engulfed in fear as gangs increasingly engage in extortion, prompting a wave of violence that is reshaping the social fabric of cities.
Jorge Tejada stood by what remains of his recycling business in Lima, surveying the charred carcass of a bus that had been torched overnight, likely in retaliation against local bus companies for refusing to pay extortion fees. The 50-year-old business owner has lost track of the numerous attacks his neighborhood has endured in the last year, including blasts at local shops and assassinations. Tejada reluctantly shared that after refusing to comply with a gang's demand for $530 monthly, his recycling facility was set ablaze. “This area was once peaceful,” he lamented, recalling how it had evolved from a humble shantytown to a respectable district through collective effort. “Now, we all live in constant fear."Such sentiments are echoed across Peru as the nation falls victim to a severe crime wave fueled by rampant extortion schemes. Reports of these extortion attempts have skyrocketed since 2017, jumping from several hundred annually to over 2,000 each month this year, according to national police. Concurrently, the rise in killings attributed to hired killers is alarming, with statistics indicating a marked increase in recent years.In various sectors, from businesses to residential communities, the growing dominance of gangs has transformed everyday life into a struggle for safety and security, marking a distressing chapter for Peru and its citizens.
