Peru Enacts Law Strengthening Military Jurisdiction and Penalties for Organized Crime

Peru's Congress has enacted Law No. 32735, which amends the Military Police Penal Code and the New Code of Criminal Procedure to clarify the scope of military duty offenses, strengthen military police jurisdiction, and impose harsher penalties on members of the Armed Forces and National Police who participate in or collaborate with criminal organizations. The law was published in the official gazette El Peruano and promulgated by Congress President Fernando Rospigliosi under constitutional parliamentary powers. The reform aims to address organized crime infiltration within security forces, a growing concern in Peru amid rising crime rates and political instability. The law tightens legal definitions and procedural rules for military jurisdiction, potentially shifting how cases involving security personnel are prosecuted.

Global Impact

Politically, the law reinforces executive and legislative efforts to combat organized crime, but may strain civil-military relations and draw scrutiny from international human rights bodies. Economically, stronger anti-crime measures could improve Peru's investment climate by reducing security risks for businesses, though the immediate effect is limited to domestic legal and institutional changes.