Keiko Fujimori turns to Bukele's prison model as Peru battles organised crime
Key Takeaways
- Fujimori toured El Salvador's mega-prison to study Bukele's Peru's president wants powers to classify certain criminal groups as hostile or terrorist organisations.
- Both leaders signed agreements as Peru confronts rising extortion cases and organised crime.
Peru's president visited El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison and sought stronger military powers to tackle criminal groups as both countries agreed to deepen security cooperation.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori is considering adopting elements of El Salvador's security strategy after visiting the country's CECOT mega-prison and meeting President Nayib Bukele on Thursday.
The visit comes as Peru seeks new measures to tackle organised crime and rising extortion cases.
Fujimori and Bukele attended a welcoming ceremony before holding bilateral talks and signing agreements covering security, justice, health and tourism.
During their meeting, Bukele offered to share El Salvador's experience in tackling criminal organisations, including its prison management policies.
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"That is why we have opened up not only our prison system to you, but also all our strategies and the way we have tackled crime in the past and continue to do so through the different stages our country has gone through," Bukele said.
Fujimori described El Salvador's approach as a "successful model, a very useful model", saying Peru would examine which measures could be adapted to its own security challenges.
She has also asked Peru's Congress to grant her government powers to classify certain criminal organisations as hostile or terrorist groups.
According to Fujimori, the proposed measures would allow the armed forces to take on greater responsibilities alongside the National Police.
"It will allow our armed forces to take on a stronger role alongside the National Police. And, as we saw today at CECOT, it is a confinement centre for terrorists," she said.
Peru has faced growing concerns over extortion and organised crime.
The country recorded 26,585 extortion complaints in 2025, representing a 19 per cent increase compared with the previous year.
Days before Fujimori's visit, Peruvian authorities conducted raids targeting illegal telecommunications equipment around prisons that was being used to provide inmates with internet access.
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Bukele's security crackdown has significantly reduced gang violence in El Salvador, although his methods have faced criticism from human rights organisations.
Rights groups have documented thousands of alleged arbitrary arrests under the country's state of exception.
Fujimori also invited Bukele to visit Peru as the two governments moved to strengthen cooperation on security and other areas.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
