PERU · SECURITY
Key Facts
- Power Index Peru ranks 5th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 54.7 points (October 2026 edition).
- What is happening Peru extended its state of emergency at five high-risk prisons for 60 calendar days from Thursday, 5 November, under Supreme Decree 148-2026-PCM, published on Tuesday, 3 November.
- Why it matters The government says peace and internal order remain disturbed at the prisons, so police and soldiers keep extra powers over the sites and the ground around them.
- The numbers The decree covers five prisons and a strip of up to 200 metres (about 650 feet) around each, for 60 days, with a police report due within five working days afterwards.
- Who is who The National Police commands internal order with armed forces support, while INPE, the National Penitentiary Institute, still runs the prisons and holds the inmates.
- What to watch Whether the government extends the emergency again when this period ends in early January, and what the final police report shows.
- What it means for you The measure covers prison perimeters, not tourist areas, but US travellers should still check the State Department’s Peru advisory before visiting Lima, Tacna or Trujillo.
Peru has extended its emergency at five high-risk prisons for 60 days from Thursday, 5 November. Police keep control of order, with armed forces in support.
Peru extended a state of emergency at five high-risk prisons on Tuesday, 3 November. Supreme Decree 148-2026-PCM, published in the official gazette El Peruano, runs for 60 calendar days from Thursday, 5 November.
The government says peace and internal order remain disturbed, so police and armed forces keep extra powers at the prisons. The decree says the inmates’ rights to life, personal integrity, health, defence and due process are not affected.
Which Prisons Are Covered
The five prisons are Challapalca, Cochamarca, Miguel Castro Castro, Ancón I and Trujillo Varones. Miguel Castro Castro and Ancón I are in Lima, while Challapalca is in Tacna and Trujillo Varones is in La Libertad.
Cochamarca is in the central Andean region of Pasco. All five are run by INPE, the National Penitentiary Institute.
What the Decree Does
The National Police keep control of internal order, and the armed forces support them by guarding the outer perimeters. INPE keeps running the prisons and holding the inmates.
The emergency covers a strip of up to 200 metres (about 650 feet) around each prison. Within it, freedom of movement, assembly and personal liberty are restricted for people entering or passing through.
Authorities may seize SIM cards, phones, bladed weapons and other banned items, and run intelligence work to prevent escapes and crime. They must respect legality, proportionality and fundamental rights.
After the extension ends, the National Police must send the Interior Minister a report on its actions and results. It is due within five working days.
Background to the Emergency
The emergency was first declared in early September for 60 days under Supreme Decree 128-2026-PCM. Tuesday’s decree continues that regime for another 60 days.
The decree cites police reports of 156% overcrowding and one guard for about 45 inmates. It also lists 60 bladed weapons, 28 phones and 7 routers seized.
A further extension would need a new decree. The decree gives the persistence of disturbance to peace and internal order as its reason.
What It Means for You
US travellers face no direct effect, because the measure covers prison perimeters rather than tourist areas. They should check the US State Department’s Peru advisory before visiting Lima, Tacna or Trujillo.
For US companies in Peru, the decree signals that the government still sees disorder around its toughest prisons. It does not change taxes, trade rules or mining permits.
Related Rio Times reports cover the first five-prison emergency and the army deployment to the five prisons. More is on the Peru security guide, the key political players, the Peru hub and the Lima city page.
What Is Not Known
The police reports behind the decree’s overcrowding and seizure figures have not been published. They could not be checked independently, and no figures on escapes were found.
It is not known how many soldiers and officers are posted at each prison. The decree summaries found give no numbers.
What Comes Next
The extension starts on Thursday, 5 November and runs for 60 calendar days. The National Police report to the Interior Minister follows within five working days of its end.
Watch for a new decree before the period ends, which would continue the emergency. Without one, the extra powers would lapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Peru prison emergency?
It is a state of emergency at five high-risk prisons, giving police and armed forces extra powers in and around them. The latest extension lasts 60 days from 5 November.
Which Peruvian prisons are covered?
Challapalca, Cochamarca, Miguel Castro Castro, Ancón I and Trujillo Varones. The measure also covers up to 200 metres (about 650 feet) around each.
Does the emergency affect tourists?
It restricts movement, assembly and personal liberty only for people entering or passing through the prison perimeters. Check the US State Department’s Peru advisory before travelling.
Who runs the prisons during the emergency?
INPE, the National Penitentiary Institute, keeps running the prisons and holding the inmates. The National Police control internal order, supported by the armed forces.
Sources: El Peruano, official gazette, Supreme Decree 148-2026-PCM (published 3 November 2026); Peru Council of Ministers, legal norms; INPE, National Penitentiary Institute; US State Department Peru travel advisory (travel.state.gov); all accessed 3 November 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error