Defense Minister Rafael Belaunde highlighted today that the dismantling of illegal transmission antennas located outside correctional facilities will become a permanent operation, aimed at diminishing the communication capabilities of criminal organizations.
Furthermore, he noted that the government’s projections indicate that the systematic blocking of prison communications—combined with measures targeting ringleaders—will lead to a drastic reduction in extortion crimes in the short term.
"The bulk of extortion originates from within prisons. If we prevent calls from being made from inside these facilities, we will see very quick results in reducing extortion," he stated, while commenting on a large-scale operation across five prisons to dismantle clandestine antennas that had bypassed security measures.
The Defense Minister explained that the steps taken by the Unified Command are intended to reinforce the principle of authority and restore peace of mind to citizens in regions most affected by organized violence.
In this regard, he emphasized that the strategy also includes strict control of the outer perimeter through the installation of military checkpoints, designed to prevent the entry of prohibited equipment and address vulnerabilities stemming from long-standing corruption at access control points.
"We must curtail the ability of external sources to transmit or send Wi-Fi signals into the prisons. At the same time, we need to maintain rigorous control to ensure that no equipment or SIM cards enter the facilities. That is why the military checkpoints are so important," he affirmed.
Concurrently, he noted, the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) will carry out internal cleanup operations to remove any unauthorized items or objects still present within the prison cells. The minister made these statements after participating in the opening of the international seminar: Citizen Security in Peru—Responses from the State, the Private Sector, and the Public.
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(END) RMCH/CCR / MDV
Published: 10/28/2026