Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Peru Declares State of Emergency in Five High-Security Prisons
Peru has placed five high-security prisons under a state of emergency for 60 days.
The government says many inmates connected to criminal groups are held in these prisons.
Police and soldiers can take control of the facilities.
They can also protect the airspace and electronic signals around them.
The government says some criminal groups operate from inside prisons.
Peru’s homicide rate increased last year.
A recent kidnapping and killing also raised security concerns.
The government wants permission to call criminal organizations terrorists, but opposition lawmakers objected.
Peru imposed a 60-day state of emergency on five high-security prisons.
Police and military forces may take control of the facilities and secure nearby airspace and electromagnetic spectrum.
The prisons hold about half of the country’s inmates linked to criminal organizations, according to the government.
Peru’s homicide rate rose to 10.7 per 100,000 people last year, from 10.1 in 2024.
The government also requested 120 days of legislative powers to label criminal organizations as terrorists, facing opposition objections.
- Who
- The government of President Keiko Fujimori, along with Peru’s police and military forces.
- What
- Declared a 60-day state of emergency in five high-security prisons.
- When
- Saturday, September 5; the emergency measure lasts 60 days.
- Where
- Five high-security prisons in Peru.
- Why
- To respond to citizens’ security concerns and combat criminal organizations allegedly operating from inside prisons toward the outside.
Government position
Opposition concerns
Expanded emergency and legal powers
Government position
The government says emergency control of the five prisons is needed to address security concerns and combat criminal organizations operating from inside them. It also requested 120 days of legislative powers to designate such organizations as terrorists.
Opposition concerns
The opposition has raised objections to the government’s request for 120 days of legislative powers to designate criminal organizations as terrorists.
- Duration
- 60 days
- Facilities affected
- Five high-security prisons
- Inmates represented
- Around 50% of inmates linked to criminal organizations, according to the government
- Authorized forces
- Police and military forces
- Additional security powers
- Authority to secure the airspace and electromagnetic spectrum immediately surrounding the prisons
- Homicide rate
- 10.7 per 100,000 inhabitants last year, up from 10.1 in 2024
- Requested legislative powers
- 120 days to designate criminal organizations as terrorists