A HORROR STORY: La Victoria: Peruvian and foreign mafias continue confronting each other for control of Av. Aviación (ONLINE SOURCE - SPANISH)

La Victoria: Peruvian and foreign mafias continue confronting each other for control of Av. Aviación

Over the last month, there has been a significant increase in violence in the district of La Victoria. Many violent confrontations are being done between Venezuelan and Peruvian criminal gangs for the control of the Aviación avenue (Av. Aviación). The situation has become a serious problem, because going out on the streets is getting completely dangerous. People are getting into brutal fights, throwing heavy objects or even using guns. Some hooded individuals, armed with sticks and driving motorcycle cabs, have organized caravans and declared a possible war against foreing nationals. Even through on of the social medias of Buenos Días Perú (a youtube channel for sharing daily news from Perú), send a flyer that was circulating in the area warning their intention to confront those who are not of Peruvian origin.

Due to these confrontations, the tension among the peruvian population and foreigners has increased even more with the arrival of the Christmas season. A period where mostly street sellers overwhelm the streets, and mafias seek to impose 'cupos' or quotes on them. 

As we can see in the first part of video, people had to protect themselves in their locals to avoid being injured or two persons hiting a motorcycle that would end in fire. It's a total chaos and what is surprising, is that there is no control! It seems that there is no state or any authority to monitor and do something. Citizens fix their problems confronting each other. 

How is it possible to use the violence as a threat if they don't comply with their request?  Why is this allowed?  For a better understanding, we must start from the beginning.

According to the Oficial Dictionary of Americanisms from the Association of Spanish Language Academies (2010), 'cobrador de cupo' and 'cupo' means a space or a place available, as well as an illegal tax with which someone is extorted in exchange for protection or security. Based on this, we understand that someone or a group extort someone for the payment of  quotas in exchange for letting them sell or move around. So in this case, some criminal groups are trying to take control of some areas or sectors and there are already groups who are taking care of them. When they try to take some of it, they are altering the hegemony existed, producing a conflict between them. That's what is happening with venezuelans and peruvians, they are threating with violence if they don't do what they want.

Why should we respond with violence? Thus we continue promoting it and allow crime continue in our country. It's true that a fundamental piece is the state, and it's not fulfilling it's mission to end crime if it doesn't act over these current problematic. This type of crime has been happening in some districts, which is why we must stop the problem right now to prevent it from spreading. We appeal to the authorities and municipalities (specially from La Victoria) to respond inmediately, since they are the heroes of this horror story...

References:

Asale. (2010). Cupo | Diccionario de americanismos. «Diccionario de americanismos». https://www.asale.org/damer/cupo

La victoria: mafias de peruanos y extranjeros se siguen enfrentando por control de Av. Aviación. (2023). Panamericana Televisión. https://panamericana.pe/buenosdiasperu/locales/394860-victoria-mafias-peruanos-extranjeros-siguen-enfrentando-control-av-aviacion?