Five suspected extortionists arrested in Cercado de Lima over quota collection from traders
The DIRINCRI PNP arrested five members of a gang that extorted clothing vendors in Cercado de Lima. Mobile phones, cash and notebooks with records of collections were seized.
Gang demanded payments from clothing traders to occupy public spaces in Lima
Agents from the Division for Investigation of Extortion of the DIRINCRI PNP arrested five suspected members of a criminal organisation dedicated to extorting traders in Cercado de Lima, exitosanoticias.pe reported on 8 September 2026.
According to investigations, those detained charged quotas to vendors of clothing in exchange for allowing them to occupy stalls in public spaces. The threats included intimidating messages against the safety of victims and their relatives.
The case began following a complaint from one of the alleged victims, who reported having received such messages. Based on that complaint, police intelligence personnel conducted surveillance work that made it possible to identify the suspects and establish their alleged link to the quota collection network.
The operation was carried out within the framework of the Citizen Security and Fight against Crime Plan 2026–2028, as specified by the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the PNP through its official account.
During the intervention, agents seized four mobile phones, S/ 2,503 in cash and two notebooks with names and amounts of money. These items will be analysed as part of investigations to determine the scope of the alleged extortion network.
The police are continuing proceedings to establish the individual responsibilities of the five individuals intervened and to determine whether there are additional victims or members linked to the organisation.
Source: Google News PE — Lima