SECURITY · PERU
Key Facts
- —The country Peru. Pataz is a gold-mining province in the northern La Libertad region, where armed gangs have fought over mines for years.
- —What happened Supreme Decree 137-2026-PCM, published on 2 October 2026, extends the Pataz state of emergency by 60 calendar days from 3 October (El Peruano, Gestión).
- —Who is involved The armed forces control internal order, backed by the National Police. A joint command for Pataz, known as CUPAZ, runs the operation.
- —What it means for you A night curfew from 22:00 to 05:00 stays in force in Pataz district. Health, utility, security and pharmacy workers are exempt, per the 2 October decree.
- —Still open Whether violence has fallen under emergency rule, renewed repeatedly in Pataz since 2023. The decree itself gives no crime figures.
Peru has extended the Pataz state of emergency for another 60 days, keeping troops in charge of the violent gold-mining province. The measure runs from Saturday 3 October.
Supreme Decree 137-2026-PCM appeared in El Peruano, the official gazette, on Friday 2 October. It keeps a night curfew in Pataz district and the suspension of several constitutional rights.
What the decree keeps in place
The extension covers the whole province of Pataz, in the La Libertad region. A curfew, officially called mandatory social immobilisation, applies in Pataz district from 22:00 to 05:00.
Workers in health, water, sanitation, security, electricity, fuel, telecoms and funeral services are exempt. So are pharmacies, El Peruano and Perú 21 reported.
Under Article 137 of Peru’s Constitution, four rights are restricted. They are the inviolability of the home, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, and personal liberty and security.
In practice, that lets security forces search homes and hold people with fewer formal checks. Counted from 3 October, the 60 days run to 1 December.
Who is in charge
The armed forces keep control of internal order, with the National Police (PNP) in support. A Unified Command for Pataz, known as CUPAZ, directs operations on the ground.
CUPAZ must report to the Defence Ministry during the extension. A final report goes to the presidency and to Congress, according to the decree as summarised by El Peruano.
The decree also requires operations to respect international human rights law. The mines ministry keeps overseeing REINFO, the register that lets small miners work while they seek permits.
Why the government says it is needed
The decree cites criminal organisations dedicated to illegal mining and other threats it classes as situations of violence. Gestión reported the same wording on Friday.
The extension follows two days after police detained 12 suspects accused of blowing up power towers to raid gold mines. That case is covered in Pataz Arrests: Peru Police Hold 12 Accused of Blasting Power Towers to Steal Gold.
Pressure is also coming through the courts. A Lima court has ordered faster reviews of miners in REINFO, as reported in Pataz Miners Face Faster Exclusion Reviews After Peru Court Sides With Poderosa.
A long emergency
The emergency is not new. In December 2023, Supreme Decree 139-2023-PCM extended Pataz’s emergency for the fifth time, Macronorte reported.
A new 60-day emergency for Pataz and Trujillo followed from 14 February 2024, Infobae reported at the time.
Back then the government pointed to more than 20 gangs in illegal gold extraction and trade. It also cited sabotage of electricity infrastructure, the same tactic police allege in this week’s arrests.
The stabilising side is that formal mining continues, and essential services are exempt from the curfew. The risk is that repeated renewals become routine without measurable results.
What Is Not Yet Known
Neither the decree nor the reports on it give figures for killings, arrests or seizures under the previous period. It is unclear whether violence in Pataz has fallen since troops took charge.
It is also open whether CUPAZ reports will be published, and how Congress will treat the final report.
Sources: El Peruano (official gazette), 2 Oct 2026; Gestión, 2 Oct 2026; Perú 21, 2 Oct 2026; Macronorte, 12 Dec 2023; Infobae, 14 Feb 2024.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief