FAP officer arrested with 53 kg of cannabis in Lurín; FAP launches investigation
An active-duty non-commissioned officer of the Peruvian Air Force was arrested along with two other individuals with 53 kg of cannabis on the South Panamerican Highway. The FAP promised to cooperate with justice and apply zero tolerance.
FAP officer captured with over 53 kilograms of cannabis on the South Panamerican Highway
The Peruvian Air Force (FAP) issued an official statement after one of its non-commissioned officers on active duty was detained with more than 53 kilograms of cannabis, according to infobae.com. The operation took place on Thursday 30 April on a stretch of the South Panamerican Highway, at the height of Lurín, and concluded with three people in police custody.
Officers from the Peruvian National Police (PNP) detected a heavy cargo lorry and a car parked in suspicious circumstances on the road. Upon inspecting the vehicles, the officers found two raffia bags containing 53 kilograms of cannabis, valued at approximately 70,000 soles (around 18,500 dollars). Preliminary investigations indicate that the shipment came from the Ayacucho region and was destined for various points in Lima.
The detainees
Among those arrested is Efraín Conde Quispe, a second-class non-commissioned officer of the FAP on active duty. He was accompanied by Walter Arturo Vásquez, a discharged member of the Peruvian Army, and Rolando Quispe Olarte, the driver of the lorry involved. The three remain in police custody whilst the PNP's Anti-drug Directorate gathers evidence and testimonies.
Immediate response from the FAP
The institution reacted swiftly. Through a statement read on Canal N, the FAP assured that it was providing all required information to both the PNP and the Public Ministry. "The FAP reaffirms its institutional decision to cooperate with justice, ensure the transparency of the process and protect public confidence in its Armed Forces," the official text stated.
The statement also specified that disciplinary and administrative measures would be adopted in accordance with the findings determined by the competent authorities. The FAP further emphasised that "transparency and cooperation with civil authorities constitute unshakeable pillars of the institution."
Regarding its internal policy, the Air Force reiterated a stance of "zero tolerance" towards unlawful conduct within its ranks. "Each case is evaluated rigorously, and the professionalism of the rest of the personnel is recognised," the institution stated, seeking to delineate individual responsibilities and preserve its image.
Ongoing investigation
The case remains in preliminary stage under the supervision of the PNP's Anti-drug Directorate. According to police sources, the intervention in Lurín took place following surveillance of suspicious movements of cargo vehicles in the area. The Public Ministry is evaluating the opening of a criminal proceeding for illicit drug trafficking against the three detainees.
The National Police and the Public Prosecutor's Office continue their investigations to determine possible links between the shipment and distribution networks in the capital. The operation is part of efforts to control strategic routes that connect coca-growing zones in the interior of the country with the main urban centres.
The detention of an active member of the FAP has reignited the debate over the need to strengthen internal controls in Peruvian military institutions. Air Force spokespeople insist it is an isolated incident, although the incident has generated concern in public opinion. The case remains open and under strict judicial supervision.
Source: Google News PE — Lima