As gang violence escalates in Peru, extortion demands have surged, traumatizing local businesses and endangering lives. Citizens and entrepreneurs share their harrowing experiences, reflecting a nation grappling with a worsening crime wave.
Peru's Descent into Chaos: Gang Violence and the Extortion Epidemic
Peru's Descent into Chaos: Gang Violence and the Extortion Epidemic
Gang-related violence and extortion schemes are terrorizing communities across Peru, leaving residents in fear and businesses struggling to survive.
In Lima, the streets once filled with the hustle of community life now echo with the fear invoked by rampant gang violence. Jorge Tejada, owner of a recycling business, recalls the harrowing incident of a bus set aflame outside his establishment, an act of aggression by gangs extorting money from local companies. At 50 years old, Mr. Tejada has lost track of the violent incidents plaguing his neighborhood over the past year — from bodega bombings to shootouts at restaurants.
His own business faced dire consequences after he resisted a monthly extortion demand of $530 from the gang, resulting in his recycling yard being damaged by fire. The local pharmacist’s murder and the increasing number of shopkeepers fleeing their operations only add to the escalating tension in what was once a peaceful area.
This wave of terror is not isolated. Current statistics reveal a stark increase in gang-related extortion, surging from hundreds of reports in 2017 to over 2,000 per month this year. The violence is not limited to extortion, as hitman killings have also significantly increased, suggesting a dire need for a robust response from authorities.
“This used to be a tranquil area,” Tejada laments, now transformed into a landscape of fear where daily activities are overshadowed by threats and violence. The troubling reality depicts a nation grappling with the severe consequences of organized crime, leaving many to wonder about the future of safety and stability in Peru.
