The Peruvian government declared a 60-day state of emergency in Lima Metropolitana and the Province Constitucional del Callao, citing a surge in criminality and violence. The measure, formalized via Decreto Supremo N.° 123-2026-PCM, was published in the Boletín de Normas Legales of the official newspaper El Peruano on 28 August 2026. The decree allows restrictions on four constitutional rights: the inviolability of the home, freedom of transit, freedom of assembly, and personal security, as outlined in Andina reports.
The emergency regime suspends these rights under Article 137 of Peru’s Constitution. Public gatherings requiring authorization, while smaller events may proceed without prior approval, according to the decree. The Policía Nacional del Perú (PNP) retains control of internal order, supported by the military, as specified in the decree. The PNP will prioritize zones with high crime rates, using data from crime maps, statistics, and surveillance tools like drones and satellite technology, per Andina.
The decree mandates interventions in prisons to block clandestine communications, including the removal of illegal antennas and controlled electricity in cells. It also establishes the Comando de Coordinación Operativa Unificada (CCO), led by the PNP’s general commander, to oversee operations. The CCO includes representatives from the military, intelligence agencies, local governments, the Ministerio Público, Poder Judicial, and other institutions, as detailed in Andina.
Gobierno declara en emergencia a Lima y Callao por
The CCO will coordinate district-level committees for intelligence, oversight, and communication. These groups will leverage police, prison, and financial records, alongside predictive analytics, according to Andina. The strategy includes patrolling, identity checks, and raids targeting drug trafficking, human trafficking, and illicit arms trade. It also aims to strengthen the Ministerio Público and judiciary’s capacity to handle criminal investigations, as stated in Andina.
The Municipalidad Metropolitana de Lima (MML) issued Ordenanza N.° 2856 on 20/9/2026, published in El Peruano, to strengthen security cooperation. The measure calls for enhanced coordination between the PNP, local governments, and civil society. It authorizes the MML to bolster surveillance systems, acquire emergency services, and enter non-competitive contracts for urgent security needs, as per Andina.
The MML’s plan includes optimizing emergency procurement processes and forming partnerships with public and private entities for logistical support. The ordinance also mandates the Gerencia Municipal Metropolitana and Gerencia de Seguridad Ciudadana to oversee implementation, with the Órgano de Control Institucional conducting control concurrente. The mayor can issue complementary directives, according to Andina.
MML declara en emergencia la seguridad ciudadana en Lima
The PNP will determine priority zones based on information, indicators, crime maps, and other tools. The CCO’s committees will use records from police, prisons, and financial systems, as well as videovigilance, drones, and satellite technology. The strategy also targets markets linked to human trafficking, drug trafficking, and illicit arms trade, as described in Andina.
The 60-day emergency period will conclude with a report from the CCO detailing outcomes. During this time, security agencies and political criminal bodies will remain on permanent session, including the Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Ciudadana (Conasec), Comité Regional de Seguridad Ciudadana de Lima Metropolitana, and Comité Provincial de Seguridad Ciudadana del Callao, as noted in Andina.
As of September 2026, no further updates on the emergency’s extension or adjustments have been reported. The MML’s ordinance emphasizes collaboration with private and public entities, but specific metrics for evaluating success remain unspecified in the sources. The PNP’s interventions in prisons include electricity control in cells, with exceptions for necessary lighting, and the removal of illegal antennas, per Andina.
The decree also seeks to protect fiscales and jueces involved in criminal cases. The MML’s ordinance highlights the need for coordinated efforts among public and private entities, though no detailed performance benchmarks or success criteria are provided in the sources. The CCO’s report will serve as the primary evaluation mechanism for the 60-day period, as outlined in Andina.