Love and drugs: Ex-prosecutor accused of leading Peru-based narco ring

A former Peruvian public prosecutor, Carmen López Chávez, known as ‘Camucha,’ is now the subject of an international drug trafficking investigation, accused of leading a criminal organization that smuggled cocaine from Peru to Europe. The Directorate Against Drugs (Dirandro) alleges she assumed command of the network after her romantic partner, José Bonifacio Muñoz Tarazona, alias ‘Titi,’ was killed in April 2024.

López Chávez reportedly managed the organization's operations, which involved sending drug shipments to Spain, France, and Italy. Emissaries were responsible for transporting the cocaine abroad, and profits were funneled back to Peru through clandestine cash transfers to bypass financial monitoring and transfer agencies.

Her alleged involvement began while she was a prosecutor, where she reportedly gained access to confidential information about Muñoz Tarazona's activities. Their relationship developed, and she allegedly rose within the criminal structure, becoming one of his most trusted associates. Peruvian National Police claim she was responsible for coordinating the logistics for drug mules traveling to Europe.

An operation at the apartment shared by López Chávez and Muñoz Tarazona led to the seizure of high-value assets, including jewelry and luxury watches. Her mother and brother were also detained on suspicion of acting as fronts for the organization's assets. López Chávez's legal situation worsened when she failed to report for work amidst the investigation and her subsequent vacation request was denied, leading to the definitive termination of her appointment as an assistant prosecutor.