on Thursday announced that the Government is evaluating bilateral cooperation mechanisms for the transfer of highly-dangerous foreign inmates to their countries of origin, including specialized facilities such as the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in El Salvador.
The measure, part of the Government's strong stance against organized crime and efforts to restore the rule of law, aims to reduce prison overcrowding, dismantle criminal networks operating from within prisons, and reaffirm the principle of authority.
"Peru will not allow its prisons to become platforms for crime. We are determined to regain full control of the penitentiary system," Arana expressed during his presentation of the Government's general policy to Congress members.
The Cabinet chief stated that control over prisons will be strengthened, overcrowding will be reduced, and technology will be used to manage them.
Likewise, he announced that this year the approval of up to US$800 million in financing is expected from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Andean Development Corporation for the construction of Ancon III Prison.
Ancon III is a facility for unsentenced detainees, with a capacity of 16,000 housing units —as well as a Special Closed Regime prison facility and the new National Center for Criminological and Penitentiary Studies (CENECP).
Similarly, the Cabinet chief announced that immigration control will be intensified.
He added that, in the second half of this year, a legislative proposal will be presented to create temporary holding facilities for foreigners who entered or remain in the country illegally, in order to maintain effective immigration control.
During his speech, the Prime Minister called for supporting Bill No. 09085/2024-PE, which amends the Criminal Code to impose tougher penalties for contract killing and extortion, and introduces the crime of urban terrorism.
The bill was submitted by the Executive Branch in October 2024.
"We call on the Legislative Branch to jointly promote this proposal," Arana urged lawmakers.
He also announced that within 60 days, new geolocation equipment will be available to accurately locate criminals attempting to extort citizens.
In addition, the Interior Ministry's Rewards System will be strengthened to make the payment process more agile and efficient for informants who provide information on ringleaders and members of criminal gangs or organizations involved in extortion and contract killing.
At this point, Arana announced that the reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Erick Moreno Hernandez, alias "El Monstruo" (The Monster), will be increased to S/1 million (US$275,709).
The Prime Minister underlined that the rule of law is not an empty slogan, but something that must be upheld with firmness and authority.
"Ours will not be a weak democracy; it must be a strong one that confronts its enemies with resolve and within the framework of the law," he emphasized.