Peru eyes El Salvador’s crime-fighting model as crime rises

Peru’s Prime Minister, Alberto Otárola, expressed interest in adopting strategies similar to those that El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, used to tackle crime.

Javier Arévalo, the head of Peru’s Judicial Power, voiced support on August 21 for considering methods resembling those employed by Bukele’s administration against gangs.

This includes a special regime in place since March 2022 and some measures that have faced criticism for potential human rights violations.

“Countries are succeeding in the fight against crime, like El Salvador. Why can’t we learn from their experiences and see how to adjust them to the Peruvian context?” Arévalo remarked.

Otárola emphasized the “effectiveness” of Bukele’s strategies in addressing gang-related issues.

“I believe the battle against organized gangs [in El Salvador] has been productive. While there have been suggestions from some international entities, our primary concern remains Peru’s agenda,” stated the Prime Minister.

He also mentioned that El Salvador has “the lowest crime rate in Latin America.”

Currently, Peru is grappling with a surge in criminal activity.

This includes some criminal groups comprised of Venezuelan migrants that have expanded their activities beyond Lima, the capital, into several provinces.

These groups are involved in various illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and contract killing.

EL SALVADOR

El Salvador’s government has initiated an aggressive gang crackdown, leading to historic lows in murder rates and high domestic approval.

This came after a massacre by major gangs in March, prompting President Nayib Bukele to suspend certain constitutional rights, easing arrests.

Since then, over 60,000 suspected gang members, over 1% of the adult population, have been detained.

Though the public largely backs this move, concerns arise from reported human rights violations, including over 7,400 abuse cases and 80 detainee deaths.

While President Bukele remains optimistic, citing an 86% approval rating, the sustainability and repercussions of these tactics remain under scrutiny.