Peru removes 48 illegal stations and 43 antennas near prisons

The Government of Peru launched an operation to remove 48 illegal telecommunications stations and 43 antennas installed in the vicinity of several penitentiary centers, with the aim of preventing inmates from maintaining unauthorized communications with people outside the prisons.

Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori announced this Monday the start of interventions, which seek to dismantle communication networks allegedly used by members of criminal organizations to coordinate illicit activities from penitentiary establishments.

The president oversaw the procedure from the Government Palace, while authorities carried out the initial actions at a penitentiary center in the Callao province, located next to Lima.

As explained, the responsible institutions previously carried out a process of identifying the signals reaching the prisons that would have allowed for clandestine communications to be established.

Peru begins dismantling illegal antennas in prisons

Fujimori reported that the authorities obtained a court order to intervene and remove the telecommunications structures identified in the vicinity of the Callao penitentiary establishment.

The intervention constitutes the first phase of a plan that will initially cover four detention centers.

During the procedures, security teams also plan to seize materials and devices related to unauthorized inmate communications.

The president assured that these actions will be progressively extended to other prisons in the country, accompanied by permanent supervision mechanisms.

“There will be no illegal signals, we will proceed in all prisons, constantly and with monitoring as well,” Fujimori stated.

Government seeks to curb criminal operations from prisons

The operation is part of the measures promoted by the Peruvian Executive to combat organized crime, especially the crimes of extortion and contract killing that affect different cities in the country.

The authorities have identified these activities as a threat to public safety, due to the constant attacks and threats against transport workers, artists, and merchants.

With the removal of clandestine antennas and stations, the Government intends to limit the possibilities for leaders of criminal organizations to continue coordinating operations from penitentiary centers.

The Peruvian administration maintains that regaining control of communications within prisons constitutes a priority of its security strategy.

Criminal ringleaders remain incarcerated in Callao

Among the high-risk inmates held at the Callao Naval Base is Jhonsson Cruz, identified as the leader of the criminal organization Los Pulpos.

Cruz was captured in Bolivia in September and subsequently transferred to Peru, where he remained in custody at the maximum-security facility.

Authorities link him to the direction of criminal activities, including the kidnapping of a mining businessman in Trujillo and the murder of four of his companions.

Also held in the same prison is Erick Mendoza, known as “El Monstruo,” another alleged criminal ringleader captured in Paraguay in September 2025.

The Callao Naval Base was created to keep some of the inmates considered most dangerous in the country under strict security measures, including leaders of terrorist organizations.

With these interventions, the Peruvian government seeks to strengthen prison surveillance and prevent prison facilities from being used as coordination centers for criminal activities.