Erick Moreno Hernandez —known as "El Monstruo" (The Monster), who is accused of kidnapping, extortion, aggravated robbery, and criminal organization— is now in the city of Lima to face justice, following his extradition from Paraguay, where he was captured on September 24, 2025.
The alleged ringleader of the criminal organization "Los Injertos del Cono Norte" (The Grafts of the Northern Cone) arrived in Callao under heavy security measures.
Numerous agents from the Peruvian National Police (PNP) Tactical Actions Unit, equipped with high-caliber weapons, were deployed in the vicinity of the Police Aviation Directorate, where he was being held.
Moreno Hernandez disembarked from the aircraft handcuffed at the hands and feet, wearing a red jumpsuit. A sign on his chest read "Detained – Dirincri." He was escorted at all times by police personnel, along with Interpol agents.
The presentation of the detainee was carried out by National Police General Commander Oscar Manuel Arriola, Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio, and Justice Minister Walter Martinez.
"Today he will undergo immigration control overseen by the National Superintendence of Migration. He will then undergo medical examinations and be transferred to the prefecture, under the Judiciary's authority, where his identity will be verified. After that, he will appear before the INPE classification board, which will determine the prison to which he will be transferred," Martinez detailed.
Subsequently, Moreno Hernandez was taken to the PNP's Anti-terrorism Directorate (Dircote) headquarters, in downtown Lima. There, he will remain in police custody inside a holding cell, in accordance with current judicial orders, until his transfer to a penitentiary facility.
The Peruvian citizen was handed over on Wednesday, at around 7:00 a.m. (Peru time), at the facilities of the Paraguayan Air Force's Aerotactical Group, to Peruvian authorities to complete the extradition process.
The man accused of leading some of the most high-profile kidnappings in recent years departed from Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion at around 7:15 a.m.
The Antonov aircraft transporting him to Peru made two technical stopovers, first in Cochabamba (Bolivia) and later in Arequipa (Peru), before landing in Callao.
At those locations, refueling operations and aircraft inspections were carried out, along with a medico-legal examination of Moreno Hernandez, in coordination with the Institute of Legal Medicine based in the southern Peruvian city.
Arrest and extradition process
The arrest of Erick Moreno Hernandez took place on September 24, 2025, in the town of San Roque, San Lorenzo district, Paraguay.
The operation was carried out jointly by Peru's Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dirincri) Organized Crime Division and Paraguay's Organized Crime Directorate.
Following his arrest, identification and preliminary hearings were held, during which he was informed of the three extradition requests filed against him by the Peruvian justice system.
On December 17, 2025, Paraguayan authorities confirmed that Moreno Hernandez was fit to be extradited to Peru, at the request of the Third Preparatory Investigation Court in Northern Lima.
In the final stage of this process, a team from the Peruvian Public Ministry (Prosecutor's Office)—comprising specialized prosecutors and a medical examiner—traveled to Paraguay to take part in the procedures prior to his handover.
Criminal background
Alias "El Monstruo" has been identified by the police as the alleged perpetrator of the kidnapping of businesswoman Jackeline Salazar Flores, which occurred in May 2024 in Lima's Los Olivos district.
Likewise, he is accused of multiple extortion cases reported in different areas of the Peruvian capital.
Authorities identify him as the main ringleader of "Los Injertos del Cono Norte" criminal organization, which is engaged in crimes such as kidnappings, extortion rackets, threats, and other acts of violence.
As part of the investigations, properties linked to his family circle were raided in June last year, leading to the arrest of his mother—accused of allegedly acting as a front person—and his partner.
Those operations also made it possible to establish the escape route he is believed to have used to flee to Paraguay and Brazil.
Given the threat he posed, the Ministry of Interior offered a reward of up to S/1 million (US$281,531) for information leading to his whereabouts and capture.
(END) KGR/MVB
Publicado: 29/1/2026