Gangs in Peru: Schools Under Siege

In Peru, schools face a growing threat from criminal gangs demanding money. These gangs target schools, especially in poor areas, asking for large sums, between $14, 000 and $28, 000. The gangs send threatening messages and even photos of weapons to scare the schools into paying. These threats are real; a 16-year-old was caught planting a bomb at a school entrance. Private schools have become common in Peru due to poor public education. Many of these schools are in areas controlled by gangs, making them easy targets. Gangs demand a share of the school's tuition fees. Miriam Ramírez, a leader in a parent-teacher group, says around 1, 000 schools in Lima are being extorted. Most schools pay up to avoid trouble, but some have switched to online classes or even closed down. This problem is part of a bigger crime wave in Peru that started during the COVID pandemic. The country has also seen many Venezuelan migrants, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang, known for extortion. However, it's hard to link them directly to the school extortions. Corrupt police officers make the problem worse. Some officers take bribes and tip off gangs about upcoming police raids. Political instability in Peru has also played a role. The country has had six presidents in the past nine years due to corruption scandals. The current president declared a state of emergency and sent the army to help fight crime, but it hasn't made much difference. Gangs operate in the poorest parts of Lima, targeting small businesses like grocery stores and soup kitchens. Many gang members come from poor backgrounds, so they know these areas well. For example, a soup kitchen worker was stabbed, and the gang left a note demanding weekly payments. Some soup kitchens now pay the gangs to avoid attacks. Not everyone gives in to the gangs. Carla Pacheco runs a small grocery store and refuses to pay the weekly extortion demands. She has paid a price for her resistance; her cats were killed and their heads left in front of her store. Despite the threats, she continues to resist, changing her children's schools and staying inside her home most of the time. After a bomb was found at its entrance, the San Vicente School hired private security and switched to online classes for a while. When classes resumed, students were told not to wear school uniforms to avoid being recognized by gang members. About 40 students have left the school due to the threats. Many schools choose to pay the extortion demands rather than resist. One school administrator said the police even advised them to pay the gangs for their own safety. The school now includes extortion payments in its annual budget. The administrator said it was either pay up or close down the school.