Bus driver shot in front of wife amid suspected extortion in Peru

A bus driver in San Martín de Porres, Peru, was critically wounded after being shot by two armed men who boarded his public transport vehicle. The attack occurred Sunday night as the driver, Juper Orbezo Rodríguez, operated his Nor Lima company bus with his wife, who works as the fare collector, on Pacasmayo Avenue.

Preliminary reports indicate the assailants boarded the bus disguised as passengers. During the route, they produced firearms and shot the driver before fleeing. Orbezo Rodríguez, a father of one, has been driving for Nor Lima for two years. He was rushed to Cayetano Heredia Hospital, where doctors confirmed he sustained two gunshot wounds, one to the hip and another to the abdomen. His condition is currently stable.

Authorities are investigating the incident as a potential case of extortion, specifically related to illegal fee collection (cobro de cupos). This is the third attack targeting the Nor Lima transport company in recent months, raising concerns about organized crime's involvement in the sector. Police are collecting evidence from the bus to identify the suspects.

The attack highlights a rising wave of violence against transport workers in Peru. According to the Crime and Violence Observatory, 131 homicides and attempted homicides against transport workers were recorded nationwide between January and May 2026, averaging 26 attacks per month. These figures underscore the growing threat of extortion and the activities of criminal gangs demanding illegal payments from transport companies and drivers.