Fear shadows Peru’s runoff vote as extortion and killings surge nationwide

Fear shadows Peru’s runoff vote as extortion and killings surge nationwide

Peru's extortion complaints surge 500% to 28,948 cases in 2025; homicides double to 2,226, driven by illegal gold mining generating $7B annually—exceeding drug trafficking. Criminal gangs control major cities nationwide; police chronically underfunded ($29k/month per investigative unit) and lack digital infrastructure to track and prosecute organized crime.