On Friday morning, a Cuban and a Venezuelan national were gunned down in the Lurigancho-Chosica district of Lima, Peru. This tragic event is part of a troubling surge in violence affecting the country, increasingly involving Latin American migrants in schemes of hired killings and extortion.
According to El Comercio, the victims were having breakfast in front of the Rinconcito Ayacuchano restaurant on Carapongo Avenue, when armed men unexpectedly opened fire in broad daylight, shocking passersby and local residents.
The Peruvian National Police quickly cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to uncover the motives behind the attack. Early indications suggest a possible settling of scores or extortion of mototaxi drivers operating in the vicinity, a common tactic among the criminal gangs vying for territorial control in Lima.
While the identities of the deceased Cuban and Venezuelan have not been disclosed, this incident adds to a series of violent episodes where migrants are caught up as either victims or perpetrators in Peru's escalating crime wave.
Just two weeks earlier, Peruvian police apprehended five alleged members of the gang known as Los Maleantes del Cono, including two Cubans and three Venezuelans. They were accused of murdering Indonesian diplomat Zetro Leonardo Purba in Lima on September 1st. The suspects were linked to extortion and contract killings, and firearms, explosives, and drugs were seized during a raid in San Martín de Porres.
The involvement of foreign nationals, especially Cubans and Venezuelans, in these criminal organizations has raised significant concerns within Peruvian society, highlighting a perceived rise in transnational crime in the country.
Impact of Migrant Involvement in Crime in Peru
What were the circumstances of the shooting in Lurigancho-Chosica?
The shooting occurred while the victims were having breakfast outside a restaurant. They were attacked by armed men in broad daylight in front of witnesses.
What are the authorities considering as motives for the attack?
Authorities suspect the attack might be linked to a settling of scores or extortion of mototaxi drivers, which are common criminal tactics in the area.
How has the involvement of migrants in crime affected perceptions in Peru?
The participation of foreign nationals, mainly Cubans and Venezuelans, in criminal activities has heightened concerns about the increase of transnational crime within the country.