Peru Moves to Try Jailed Gang Boss for 26 More Crimes

PERU · JUSTICE

Already serving 35 years, the alleged leader of a Lima extortion gang could face trial for killings of transport workers.

On Tuesday, 6 October, Peru’s Supreme Court approved asking Paraguay to widen the extradition of Erick Moreno Hernández, known as El Monstruo. The extension would let Peruvian prosecutors try him for 26 alleged crimes committed between 2022 and 2025.

The case matters beyond Peru because extortion gangs have made Lima’s buses and minibuses a target. Attacks on drivers have prompted transport strikes that can bring parts of the capital to a halt.

What the Court Decided

The Permanent Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Víctor Prado Saldarriaga, found the request admissible, RPP reported. The state news agency Andina said the court found the requirements of the bilateral extradition treaty were met.

The request came from a lower court, the Fourth Preparatory Investigation Court, which filed it on Thursday, 3 September. That court handles the pre-trial stage of criminal cases.

The 26 acts allegedly took place in Los Olivos, Independencia, Comas and Carabayllo, working-class districts in northern Lima. Prosecutors accuse Moreno of leading Los Injertos del Cono Norte, a criminal organisation, Andina reported.

The charges include aggravated homicide and aggravated extortion. The alleged victims include transport company executives and a motorcycle-taxi driver, as well as shopping centres and business owners targeted for extortion.

Who Is El Monstruo

Moreno was captured in Paraguay in October 2025 and extradited to Peru on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, RPP reported. He is held at the Callao Naval Base, a high-security site west of central Lima.

On Wednesday, 24 June 2026, a Lima court sentenced him to 35 years in prison, according to RPP. The case concerned the kidnapping for ransom of two businessmen and relatives in Comas in March 2020, Andina reported.

He has not been tried for any of the 26 acts in the new request. He is presumed innocent of them unless a court convicts him.

Why Paraguay Has to Agree

Under extradition rules, a person handed over by another country can normally be tried only for the crimes that country approved. To prosecute anything else, the requesting state must ask for an extension.

This is the second such request for Moreno this year. In July the Supreme Court approved a first extension covering organised crime, attempted homicide and extortion, RPP reported.

The government formalised that first request about two weeks after the court ruling, according to RPP. In February, extradition lawyer Vladimir Padilla told RPP that Peru cannot impose a life sentence that Paraguay’s law does not allow.

Lima’s Extortion Problem

Extortion of transport companies is at the centre of Peru’s security debate. Late on Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies gave President Keiko Fujimori’s government 90 days of decree powers on citizen security.

Those powers cover extortion, contract killings and organised crime, Lima daily Correo reported. The Senate still has to vote on them.

What It Means for You

The US State Department rates Peru at Level 2, exercise increased caution, citing crime, unrest, kidnapping and terrorism. Its advisory, issued on Friday, 4 September, notes that robberies and assaults can happen even in daylight.

For visitors, the practical risk from extortion gangs is mostly indirect, through transport strikes in Lima. Travellers should check local news before heading to the airport on strike days.

For companies, the case shows that Peru is pursuing gang leaders across borders. It also shows how slowly such cases move through courts in two countries.

What Is Not Known

It is not known how long Paraguay will take to decide. Reports differ on whether Paraguay has already granted the first extension requested in July.

It is also not known when any trial for the 26 acts could begin. No public comment from Moreno’s defence on the latest request could be found.

What Comes Next

The Supreme Court ordered the file sent to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, with notice to prosecutors. The government then decides whether to send the request to Paraguay.

The ruling is not a conviction and does not add time to his sentence. It is a procedural step that opens the way to a possible new trial.

If the July timetable is repeated, the government could formalise the new request within weeks. Paraguay’s judiciary would then rule on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is El Monstruo?

El Monstruo is the alias of Erick Moreno Hernández, accused of leading the Lima extortion gang Los Injertos del Cono Norte. He was sentenced in June 2026 to 35 years for a 2020 kidnapping case.

Why does Peru need Paraguay’s permission?

Paraguay extradited him to Peru in January 2026 for specific charges. Under extradition rules, Peru needs Paraguay’s consent to try him for other crimes.

What crimes are in the new request?

The request covers 26 alleged acts from 2022 to 2025, including organised crime, aggravated homicide and aggravated extortion. Many targeted transport businesses in northern Lima.

Is Lima safe for US visitors?

The US State Department advises increased caution in Peru, its Level 2 rating. Extortion gangs target local businesses such as bus companies, but transport strikes can disrupt travel.

Sources: Andina (state news agency); US State Department, Peru travel advisory; RPP; RPP (July extension); RPP (February); Correo (all accessed 7 October 2026).