Peru Declares State of Emergency in Lima and Callao Amid Rising Violence

The Peruvian government has declared a 30-day state of emergency in the capital city of Lima and the neighboring Constitutional Province of Callao in response to a surge in violent crime.

Peru Emergency ©️ Martin Mejia

The decision, enacted through Supreme Decree No. 035-2025-PCM, was announced late Monday and includes the deployment of military personnel to assist police forces in maintaining internal order.

The emergency declaration comes after weeks of escalating violence attributed to criminal organizations, including extortion schemes and targeted attacks. The situation reached a boiling point following the tragic death of Paul Flores, a beloved cumbia singer, who was fatally shot on Sunday while traveling on a bus with his bandmates. The attack, reportedly linked to an extortion attempt by a criminal gang, sparked widespread outrage across the nation.

Under the state of emergency, certain constitutional rights—including freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, personal security, and the inviolability of homes—will be restricted as outlined in Article 137 of Peru’s Political Constitution. This measure grants law enforcement and military personnel expanded powers to apprehend individuals without judicial warrants and conduct operations aimed at restoring order.

Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen emphasized the severity of the crisis, stating that immediate action was necessary to address the wave of killings and extortion plaguing the region. “We will not allow one more death,” President Dina Boluarte declared in a public address following Flores's murder. Boluarte also expressed her willingness to consider reinstating the death penalty for hitmen and extortionists—a controversial proposal given that Peru currently allows capital punishment only for treason.

The state of emergency highlights broader concerns about rising crime rates in Peru. Between January 1 and March 16 alone, authorities recorded 459 homicides and over 1,900 cases of extortion. Criminal groups such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua have been blamed for exacerbating the violence, which has increasingly targeted businesses, including transportation companies.

This is not the first time Peru has resorted to such measures. Similar declarations were made last year in parts of Lima as authorities struggled to curb racketeering-related murders. Despite recent arrests touted by officials, public confidence in law enforcement remains low.

The government has pledged to ensure that military and police interventions adhere to constitutional principles of proportionality and reasonableness to avoid abuses of power. However, critics argue that more comprehensive strategies are needed to address underlying issues such as poverty, corruption, and inadequate policing.

As Lima and Callao endure heightened security measures over the next month, many hope this decisive action will bring relief from the violence that has gripped the region. For now, residents remain on edge as authorities work to restore order in one of Latin America's most troubled urban areas.