Peruvian criminal gang leader 'Los Pulpos' captured in Bolivia
Jhonsson Cruz, alias 'Jhonsson Pulpo', was arrested in Bolivia after faking his death and undergoing cosmetic surgery to evade Peruvian justice.
'Jhonsson Pulpo', leader of Los Pulpos, detained in Bolivia after eight months on the run
Police captured Jhonsson Cruz, alias 'Jhonsson Pulpo', in Bolivia, considered the top leader of Los Pulpos, the most powerful criminal organisation in northern Peru, according to reduno.com.bo. Cruz had accumulated a life sentence and had been evading authorities for months using false identities and cosmetic surgeries that noticeably altered his appearance.
Third generation of a criminal family from Trujillo
Peruvian police identify 'Jhonsson Pulpo' as the third generation of a criminal clan originating in Trujillo. His grandfather, Teófilo Cruz Álvarez, died in prison in 2020 while serving time for criminal organisation. His father, Jhon Cruz Arce—known as 'Jhon Pulpo'—founded Los Pulpos together with his brothers in the early 1990s and led the gang until his conviction in 2008 to 25 years in prison for homicide, a sentence he completed in 2025 through a habeas corpus petition.
With his father in prison, Jhonsson took control of the gang at age 17, in 2014, supported by his uncles. From the district of El Porvenir, in Trujillo, he expanded operations to other areas of the country and abroad, with his uncle Eddy based in Chile.
Kidnappings, mutilations and life sentence
At 30 years old, Cruz Torres has a criminal record that includes homicides, extortions and kidnappings committed mainly in Trujillo. Among the victims attributed to him are businessmen Santos Guillermo Sánchez, Emilio Julca Huamán, Kristell Cotrina and Robert Quezada.
Sánchez Vera was murdered whilst in captivity; his body showed signs of violence and mutilated fingers, and was abandoned with the message "for not paying in full". Quezada Crisólogo had his fingers amputated to demand a ransom of two million dollars.
A Trujillo court sentenced 'Jhonsson Pulpo' to life imprisonment for robbery with homicide of a merchant that occurred in March 2020. Since August 2022 he appeared on Peru's list of most wanted criminals. In 2024, the reward for his capture was raised from 75,000 soles—approximately 22,300 dollars—to 500,000 soles, equivalent to roughly 148,000 dollars. Additionally, he faces proceedings for aggravated homicide, murder for hire, criminal organisation and aggravated kidnapping.
Faked death and identity change
In November 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Cruz Torres had a death certificate registered in his name, leading Peruvian authorities to temporarily suspend their search for him. From then on he operated under multiple false identities from neighbouring countries, mainly Chile and Bolivia.
Photographs compared from his first arrests show significant physical changes to his face, attributed to an indeterminate number of cosmetic surgeries.
Eight months on the run after failed initial operation
In January this year, a coordinated operation between the police forces of Bolivia, Chile and Peru attempted to capture 'Jhonsson Pulpo' in Bolivian territory without success. On that occasion only his partner, Keisy Salvatierra, 29 years old, was arrested, who also had a warrant for kidnapping.
After that failure, the general commander of Peru's National Police, Óscar Arriola, declared that it was a matter of days before they would find Jhonsson's whereabouts. The fugitive managed to remain at large for eight more months, until this Tuesday, when he was finally detained in Bolivia.
Source: Google News BO — Crime