In one of the week’s most disturbing stories, Peruvian military personnel fired approximately 60 rounds at a 4×4 vehicle during an anti-narcotics operation in the VRAEM (Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers) region, killing all five civilians inside. The incident, reported by La República, has sparked outrage and demands for accountability.
The VRAEM is Peru’s primary coca-growing region and the site of frequent military operations targeting drug trafficking networks. However, the deaths of civilians in such operations have long drawn criticism from human rights organisations. Details about the circumstances leading to the shooting — including whether the vehicle was misidentified as a target — remain under investigation.
