‘Jhonsson Pulpo’ captured in Bolivia on international warrant, after receiving life sentence

Jhonsson Smit Cruz Torres, known as “Jhonsson Pulpo,” was captured in La Paz after several years on the run. Peruvian police consider him one of the main leaders of the Los Pulpos de Cruz Blanca criminal organization.

Authorities detained Cruz Torres at about 9:45 a.m. on Sept. 1 in a building on Isaac Tamayo Street. The operation followed international intelligence work involving specialized teams from Peru and Bolivia. His arrest was not made directly over the recent kidnapping of mining businessman Jenss Lara or the quadruple murder in Trujillo. It followed an active international warrant requested by the Third Collegiate Supraprovincial Criminal Court of the Superior Court of Justice of La Libertad.

The warrant concerns allegations including aggravated robbery resulting in death, qualified murder, contract killing, criminal organization and aggravated kidnapping. Cruz Torres had received a life sentence and was the subject of a S/500,000 reward. Police are also investigating him in connection with other kidnappings and homicides, but have not confirmed his participation in the recent cases involving Lara and the four victims.

The search began in January and involved Peru’s Special Team Against Kidnapping and Extortion, FBI-Lima, the High-Complexity Crime Investigation Division, DEA Peru, Bolivia’s national police and its cybercrime division. Bolivian Police Commander General Adrián Javier Álvarez Arismendi said Cruz Torres tried to flee when he noticed officers. He had entered Bolivia irregularly and altered his appearance, including through surgery on his ears, cheekbones and eyebrows.

Cruz Torres was detained with Gabriel Alexander Saul Mendocilla Gómez. Officers found identity documents belonging to other people, including two Peruvian passports, a Peruvian identity card and two Bolivian identity cards. Bolivia announced that it would expel Cruz Torres under a resolution from its General Directorate of Migration. Peruvian authorities must then complete the arrangements for his return.

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The work to identify and locate the fugitive had been under way since January this year.