In brief
Gang violence and extortion are on the rise in Peru, profoundly impacting local businesses and instilling fear in communities. Reports indicate a drastic increase in extortion cases, escalating from hundreds to thousands monthly. As authorities grapple with the crisis, many citizens, like Lima resident Jorge Tejada, speak of their harrowing experiences amid a growing wave of crime.
In Peru, a surge in gang violence has left communities in turmoil, with organized crime increasingly targeting local businesses for extortion. Jorge Tejada, a 50-year-old business owner in Lima's recycling sector, reflects on the devastation caused by gangs demanding money, stating, "This used to be a tranquil area... Now we all live in fear here." Tejada's experiences encapsulate the broader fear permeating through neighborhoods as gangs engage in aggressive tactics. Overnight, a bus was torched near Tejada's business, representing yet another violent retaliation against those who refuse to comply with gang demands. The landscape of crime has drastically changed in the past few years, with extortion cases skyrocketing from only a few hundred in 2017 to over 2,000 per month currently, according to police statistics. Hired killings are also on the rise, indicating a deepening crisis.Tejada recalls the history of his neighborhood, transformed from a shantytown into an organized district through community effort, now overshadowed by terror. The alarming trend not only impacts business owners but has driven many, including shopowners and pharmacists, into hiding as they seek refuge from the violent turf wars.This dramatic rise in criminal activity poses significant challenges for law enforcement as well as everyday citizens striving to reclaim their sense of safety. The once harmonious environment has deteriorated into a battleground, as Peru continues to grapple with these insidious threats to its urban life.
