The mayor of the province of Pataz, Aldo Mariñosreported being a victim of extortion threats by a subject who claims to belong to the criminal organization ‘The Octopuses’who demands payment of 50 thousand soles so as not to threaten his life and that of his family.
According to the municipal authority, the threats were made through telephone calls and messages, some of which were engraved by the burgomaster himself as evidence of the harassment he has been suffering.
Mayor recorded threats
In one of the videos released, Mariños is seen answering a call from a subject who identifies himself as ‘Crazy Alex’who claims to communicate on behalf of the criminal gang ‘Los Pulpos’ to demand payment of the money.
During the conversation, the mayor tells him that he has the wrong person; However, the alleged criminal responds that “they always tell them that,” but then “when things happen” they contact them again.
Given the mayor’s refusal, the subject maintains that “many mayors are with them”to which Mariños replies: “Well, that’s their problem. If they’ve decided to walk down the wrong path, that’s not my fault.”.
The threat intensifies when the extortionist claims that he will eventually pay and threatens to harm your childreneven ensuring that it has photographs of them. Despite this, the mayor reiterated his rejection of the payment and sent a direct message to the criminals: “Work with dignity and stop hurting people”.
It should be noted that the past February 11Mariños also spread a video sent by extortionistsin which they exhibit war weaponrywarning that it could be used against them and their loved ones if the required disbursement is not made.
State of emergency in Pataz
The mayor’s complaint occurs in a context of current state of emergency in the province of Pataz. The Executive Branch expanded by 60 calendar days this measure by Supreme Decree No. 016-2026-PCMwith the aim of confronting the actions of criminal organizations linked to the illegal mining and other acts of violence.
The standard provides that the Armed forces maintain control of internal order, with the operational support of the National Police of Peru (PNP)in the province of Pataz, the town center of Chagualito (Cochorco district) and the province of Sánchez Carrión, in La Libertad.
It is in this scenario of high conflict that Mayor Aldo Mariños has made the complaint public, demanding greater protection and concrete actions against the criminal networks that operate in the area.
