The assassination of Jolvi Rodríguez Calderón in the highlands of Pataz was not a typical hit. On March 20, as Rodríguez returned to his home in the annex of Carhuabamba, he was ambushed by gunmen in camouflage uniforms traveling in 4×4 vehicles. The attackers did not stop at murder; after shooting Rodríguez in the stomach and lungs, they systematically dynamited his truck, a compressor, and two motorcycles before blowing up his family home.
For the families in La Libertad, the brutality suggested something beyond a dispute between rival miners. It bore the hallmarks of a professional operation. The subsequent investigation has since peeled back a layer of institutional rot, revealing a volatile conflict between the Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the Army for control over the region’s lucrative and lawless illegal mining trade.
What began as a homicide investigation has evolved into a crisis of state authority. Evidence suggests that members of the Unified Command of Pataz (CUPAZ)—a joint task force of military and police—may not only be complicit in the protection of illegal mining syndicates but are actively warring with internal police investigators to shield their interests.
The Trail to the Military
The investigation, led by Fiscal Limber Mallqui Acosta and a specialized team from the Criminal Investigation Division (Divincri) of Trujillo under Mayor PNP Roger Sánchez Chávarry, quickly moved beyond the crime scene. Surveillance cameras at the only control checkpoint for the Porfía mine captured a mixed patrol consisting of Army personnel and the Special Operations Directorate (Diroes) passing through the area immediately before and after the murder.
The patrol was under the command of Captain Edwar Diaz Cieza. While the investigation remains open, the timing and location of the patrol’s movements have led investigators to believe that elements within the Army and Diroes were directly linked to the execution of Rodríguez.
By early April, the Divincri team discovered a deeper pattern: a protection racket. Testimonies and evidence gathered by Mayor Robinson Sánchez Chávarry indicated that certain members of CUPAZ were receiving bribes to provide security and cover for families engaged in illegal mining.
A Violent Collision of Authority
The tension between the investigating police and the military presence in Pataz reached a breaking point on April 11. Following an intelligence tip, PNP agents intercepted a shipment of 600 dynamite cartridges and seized 40,000 soles in cash from a vehicle driven by Geraldo Guzmán Marquina and accompanied by Carmen Villalobos Huamán.
However, as the police team returned to Pataz that night, they were violently intercepted by an Army patrol led by Mayor EP Víctor Andrade Segura. Despite the officers identifying themselves, the soldiers forced the police to the ground at gunpoint and stripped them of their service weapons. According to reports, Mayor Andrade demanded the 40,000 soles, accusing the police of “kidnapping” the suspects to steal the money.
The following day, the four police officers were not returned to their unit but were instead flown via Army helicopter to Trujillo. They were handed over to the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor on charges of bribery and illegal possession of weapons—a move seen by many as a strategic effort to neutralize the investigation into the military’s ties to illegal mining.
The Driver and the Commander
The link between the murder of Jolvi Rodríguez and the military hierarchy became explicit on April 21. Police in Chagual detained four men, including Jeyser Otiniano Vásquez, who were found in possession of the license plate from Rodríguez’s stolen motorcycle.
During interrogation, Otiniano admitted he served as the personal driver for two high-ranking CUPAZ officials: Mayor Andrade Segura and an Army commander identified only as “Commander Silva.” The investigation suggests that Commander Silva exerted significant pressure on the Chagual police station to secure Otiniano’s release, leading to a police report for influence peddling against the officer.
In a final blow to the rule of law in the region, the legal process collapsed on April 22. As the suspects were being transported from Chagual to Trujillo, a group of “ronderos” (community peasant patrols) intercepted the police vehicle and forcibly liberated the detainees, including Otiniano.
Chronology of Institutional Collapse in Pataz
| Date | Event | Key Parties Involved |
|---|---|---|
| March 20 | Assassination of Jolvi Rodríguez; home dynamited. | Gunmen in camouflage |
| April 11 | Seizure of 600 dynamite cartridges and 40k soles. | PNP Divincri Trujillo |
| April 11 (Night) | Army intercepts and disarms PNP investigators. | Mayor EP Víctor Andrade Segura |
| April 21 | Arrest of murder suspects; link to Army driver found. | Jeyser Otiniano / Cmdr. Silva |
| April 22 | Ronderos intercept police and free suspects. | Local Peasant Patrols |
Why Pataz Remains a Flashpoint
The situation in Pataz is a microcosm of the broader struggle for control over Peru’s mineral-rich highlands. The high value of gold has created a “shadow state” where illegal miners possess more firepower and financial influence than local authorities. When the state sends in the military to restore order, the risk of “capture”—where the protectors become the protectors of the criminals—is immense.
The conflict between the PNP and the Army is particularly damaging because it destroys the internal trust necessary for intelligence operations. When investigators from the Divincri cannot travel the roads of Pataz without fear of being detained by their own military allies, the state effectively ceases to function.
Disclaimer: This report involves ongoing legal proceedings and criminal investigations. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The focus of the investigation now shifts to the verification of Commander Silva’s full identity and the potential filing of charges against Mayor Andrade Segura for the illegal detention of police officers. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior have yet to announce a joint strategy to resolve the jurisdictional friction within CUPAZ.
Do you believe the current joint-command structure is effective in fighting illegal mining, or does it invite more corruption? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
