Nine police officers arrested in Peru for allegedly taking bribes from truckers

Nine police officers from the Vitarte police station in Lima, Peru, have been detained on suspicion of demanding bribes from transport operators along the Central Highway. These officers allegedly proposed to overlook traffic violations in exchange for substantial monetary payments, according to authorities.

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The officers are accused of demanding bribes from transport operators on the Central Highway, proposing to benefit them by not imposing traffic tickets in exchange for large sums of money.

The investigation was initiated after transport workers voluntarily came forward to report the alleged extortion scheme. These individuals claimed they were being subjected to a systematic maneuver by members of the Vitarte station. Following these denunciations, the Provincial Corporate Specialized Prosecutor's Office in Corruption of Public Officials (Second Office) of Lima Este ordered the Directorate Against Corruption (Dircocor) of the National Police to investigate the case.

The Judiciary approved a preliminary detention order requested by the prosecution for the crime of passive bribery in the exercise of police duty. The arrested officers include Ensign PNP Diego García, identified as the alleged leader, along with non-commissioned officers Vidal Guardamino, Johanny Vera, Jorge Meneses, Víctor Romero, Lishner Huaman, Giovani Cruz, Fredy Flores, and Carlos López.

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The Judiciary ordered the preliminary detention requested by the prosecution for the crime of passive bribery in the exercise of police duty.

According to the investigation led by Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Dacio Felles Isidro, the officers allegedly formed a criminal group within the patrol section of the Vitarte station. They are accused of concertedly intercepting drivers on the Central Highway to demand bribes, threatening to issue traffic tickets if payments were not made. In cases where drivers lacked cash, they were reportedly forced to make bank withdrawals. The operation also involved the search of the residences of the accused and the police station itself, leading to the seizure of electronic equipment, cash, and relevant documents.

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The police officers allegedly formed a criminal group in the patrol section of the cited police station and dedicated themselves to concertedly intercepting drivers on the Central Highway to demand bribes in exchange for not imposing traffic tickets.