He General Franco Moreno Panta, head of the La Libertad police regionrevealed that the attacks against Monasterio, Tabaco y Ron, Luxor, Tabaco Marino and ‘La Hacienda de Lobo’ are for extortion against the same businessman. The criminal organization seeks to collect money “at any cost and by any means,” according to the police authority.
The general of the National Police of Peru, Franco Moreno Panta, head of the La Libertad police region, revealed that five attacks with explosives recorded in recent weeks in Trujillo would be directed against businesses of the same owner for extortion by the criminal gang ‘Los Pulpos’.
The police authority indicated that it is a conglomerate of companies that belong to a single businessman, who is the victim of a systematic campaign of threats to force him to pay quotas.
“‘Los Pulpos’, they are responsible for all the dynamite attacks. It is for extortion, purely for extortion. They have an obsession with collecting money from this businessman at any cost and by any means. It is not an isolated attack, it is for the same person, for the same person being extorted, for the same victim, for the same representative of an industry. It is a single person who is being attacked,” Moreno Panta declared to the press.
Five stores linked to the same owner
The PNP identified the following establishments as part of the same business chain:
- Monastery Disco: Where the bus of the musical group Armonía 10 was affected
- Tobacco and Rum Liquor Store: Two headquarters attacked with explosives
- Luxor Nightclub: Victim of dynamite attack
- Marine Tobacco Disco: Attacked last Sunday without being in operation
- ‘La Hacienda de Lobo’ event venue: Last attack recorded early Monday morning
However, the Tabaco Marino nightclub chain issued a statement to reject the Police version of the business link. The company maintains that it only shares the administration with Tabaco y Ron
Despite the clarification, the PNP maintains its hypothesis and continues with the investigations.
Magnitude of the last attack
The most recent attack occurred early Monday morning on Santa Avenue, four blocks from the main headquarters of the Trujillo Army. Security cameras captured two criminals on a motorcycle: one got out of the vehicle and threw the explosive at ‘La Hacienda de Globo’.
At least 25 homes were affected, according to the Civil Defense report. Criminal Police experts reported that around 15 explosives (dynamite cartridges) were used in the attack.
Neighbors in the area reported that at first they believed it was an earthquake due to the magnitude of the impact. When they left their houses, they found broken glass on the track, windows and destroyed walls in multiple buildings.
The Police continue the investigations in the midst of the extortion wave that affects the city of Trujillo.
