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Peru Imposes 30-Day State of Emergency in Lima and Callao to Confront Crime

The move follows protests over rising extortion, after a March emergency was widely seen as ineffective.

Overview

  • The 30-day emergency for Metropolitan Lima and Callao takes effect at midnight Wednesday, enabling army support for police and temporary limits on assembly and movement.
  • A government decree formalized the measure but leaves unclear how authorities will gather intelligence to dismantle extortion networks.
  • Police report 1,690 homicides from January to September 2025 versus 1,502 a year earlier, with extortion cases estimated near 18,000 this year, roughly 30% higher.
  • The announcement follows weeks of youth-led protests over crime and corruption, with one person killed and about 100 injured, after Congress ousted Dina Boluarte and installed José Jerí as interim president.
  • The decree states police keep control of internal order with armed forces support, omits a curfew, and includes measures such as banning two riders on one motorcycle and tightening prison security.