17:00 | Trujillo (La Libertad region), Jun. 15.
The
Decentralized Directorate of Culture (DDC) in La Libertad region has filed a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry (Prosecutor's Office) against five individuals, as well as any others found responsible, for the destruction of the Triple Spiral geoglyph.
The geoglyph is an important rock art icon located in the Quebrada Santo Domingo Archaeological Zone, Laredo district, Trujillo province, northern Peru.
"On June 9, we carried out an operation after reports indicated that several huts had been installed about 20 meters from the geoglyph. We went to the site with the municipality and the Police (officials) and removed those structures," Barrantes said.
"Unfortunately, yesterday we were informed of the destruction of the Triple Spiral. We returned with the Police and confirmed the damage," she lamented.
The official explained that the act of vandalism was carried out manually, with shovels used to remove and scatter across the site the stones that formed the ancient geoglyph.
The suspects
Barrantes said that during the initial operation on June 9, Laredo Police Station agents identified five individuals, who have now been formally included in the criminal complaint filed by the Ministry of Culture.
According to the document, those under investigation are Lhenin Prado Zavaleta, Jaime Benites Ruiz, Fernando Calderon Lopez, Jose Zambrano Mendoza, and Herman Zelada Mendoza.
The inclusion of additional individuals in the case has not been ruled out, such as Manuel Francisco Sanchez Avalos, who claims ownership of the land despite its status as a protected and inalienable area under the Peruvian State.
Cross-checking information and inconsistencies
At another point, Barrantes said she had formally requested that the Laredo District Municipality verify the legal validity of a document presented by the land invaders on June 9.
The document stated that Sanchez Avalos held a certificate of possession issued by the municipality.
"The document bears the current format, but it is dated earlier. Besides, it was issued by an institution that lacks the authority to do so. These are serious concerns that must be officially clarified by the entity," she added.
In a twist to the case, it emerged that Sanchez Avalos himself filed a complaint against Culture Ministry representatives, alleging that the removal of huts he had installed within the protected area had affected his private property.
Finally, the DDC deputy director urged citizens not to be misled by land-trafficking groups seeking to take over these archaeological sites, which by law are protected, inalienable, and not subject to acquisition through the passage of time.
(END) LPZ/MAO/MVB
Published: 6/15/2026