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Peru Megaoperation Nets 14 in Lima Norte Crime Network Tied to ‘El Monstruo’

Prosecutors move to charge a prison‑directed network after a judge authorized the extradition of alleged leader Erick Moreno.

Overview

  • The Fiscalía–PNP action executed 23 property raids and searched 12 cells across five prisons, targeting an organization accused of extortion, kidnappings, hired killings and arson since 2022.
  • Authorities say the group operated under the brands ‘Los Injertos del Cono Norte’ and ‘Los Despiadados del Cono Norte,’ with Diviac detecting payments flowing to the same bank accounts.
  • Fourteen suspects were detained for 15 days of preliminary custody, including 13 arrests in Lima and one Venezuelan detainee in Loreto, as investigators gather documents and witness statements.
  • Investigators describe a financing scheme that demanded S/10,000–S/80,000 from businesses and daily S/1–S/5 from mototaxi and combi drivers, using simulated sales to mask extortion proceeds.
  • Police link the network to killings of mototaxi leaders and attacks on commercial and medical sites in Lima Norte, while Paraguay captured Erick Moreno on September 25 and a judge later cleared his extradition to Peru.