finally arrived in the Peruvian capital from the city of Juliaca on Wednesday afternoon, following his expulsion from Bolivia, where he was captured after years as a fugitive from justice.
His transfer was led by Interior Minister Cesar Astudillo, who traveled to the southern city of Juliaca this morning, where Cruz Torres was being held under tight security measures.
"Jhonsson Pulpo" landed aboard a Peruvian Air Force Hercules aircraft at Air Group No. 8 in Callao.
He was wearing gray pants, a black sweatshirt, and a vest marked "detainee."
Alexander Saul Mendocilla Gomez, 23, alias "Gordillo," was transferred alongside him. Both men were captured in La Paz, Bolivia.
Prime Minister Luis Galarreta, along with other authorities, went to Air Group No. 8 to supervise the detainees' arrival and subsequent transfer.
Jhonsson Cruz Torres is under investigation for aggravated robbery resulting in death, aggravated homicide, contract killings, membership in a criminal organization, and aggravated kidnapping.
He also has a life sentence for a case involving aggravated robbery resulting in death that occurred in Trujillo, northern Peru, in March 2020.
Because of the sentence against him, Cruz Torres will be brought before the judge who requested his arrest.
He will be ordered to be taken to a prison under the administration of the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE).
Cruz Torres was one of Peru's most wanted men. A S/500,000 (about US$148,500) reward was offered for information leading to his capture. He was even the subject of an international arrest warrant.
Los Pulpos is a criminal organization that began to grow through extortion and aggravated robberies, particularly targeting transportation companies in El Porvenir and Florencia de Mora districts, as well as in Trujillo.
Its crimes include extortion, kidnapping, and "chalequeo" targeting illegal mining operations in La Libertad region.
Five Faces
Jorge Chavez Cotrina, national coordinator of the prosecutors' offices specializing in organized crime, said the operation was the result of coordinated work between the Peruvian National Police and its Bolivian counterparts.
"He was arrested with forged documents. This allowed the Bolivian Government not to wait for an extradition process and to immediately expel him from the country," the senior prosecutor stated.
"Jhonsson Pulpo" changed his appearance to evade justice. He is known to have had up to five different faces.
"Intelligence work by both Peru and Bolivia has allowed us to fully identify him. All the physical changes he underwent were of no use because there is technology that allows us to establish his true identity," Chavez Cotrina added.
Chavez Cotrina said that while the capture is a major blow to organized crime, "we cannot let our guard down or lower our vigilance."
"We must continue strengthening the National Police, intelligence and counterintelligence work. Having him in prison will be of no use if remnants of the organization can grow," he added.
After noting that the ringleaders of criminal organizations control significant amounts of money that enable them to finance their escapes, he said the strategy for combating crime now focuses not only on individuals but also on their assets and financial resources.
(END) KGR/MVB
Publicado: 2/9/2026