The National Police of Peru have arrested three women from a single family clan suspected of running an extortion ring in the Rimac district of Lima. Officers identified the criminal group as Las Poderosas del Rimac and took the suspects into custody on charges of extortion, illicit drug trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
The operation was carried out by the Extortion Investigation Division under the National Directorate of Criminal Investigation. Officers raided a residential property located along Jiron Malecon Rimac, a street running along the Rimac River in the historic Peruvian district. Authorities identified the detainees as 40 year old Leisi Erika Contreras Verastegui, alias Bombom, her 65 year old mother Nancy Amparo Verastegui Gutierrez, alias Bellota, and her 19 year old daughter Maricielo Angela Calixto Contreras, alias Burbuja.
Police launched the intervention following a formal complaint filed by an entrepreneur in the canopy and event rental business. According to the investigation, the businessman received threatening WhatsApp messages demanding a payment of 30,000 soles alongside photographs of his commercial premises.
Business owner targeted with threats
During the raid, officers searched the property and inspected a mobile phone belonging to one of the detainees. Investigators discovered the exact same photographs sent to the targeted businessman stored on the device. Police stated that the finding established a direct link between the suspects and the extortive threats.
Police investigations also identified Renzo Jair Contreras Velasquez, the son of Nancy Verastegui, as the alleged ringleader of the criminal organization. Contreras Velasquez is currently incarcerated in a Peruvian prison facility. Authorities said he directed extortion operations against local merchants and residents from inside his prison cell.
Extortion network directed from prison
General Manuel Lozada Morales, National Director of Criminal Investigation, stated that Verastegui has three sons currently serving time in separate correctional facilities across Peru, including San Pedro in Lurigancho, Castro Castro, and Chincha. Police stated that extortive messages were sent to victims directly from the prison facilities.
While the incarcerated sons dispatched extortion threats from behind bars, the three women on the outside were responsible for collecting extortive payments and conducting video surveillance on prospective victims. General Lozada Morales explained that the family gang targeted business owners across various commercial sectors, including grocery stores, hardware shops, and pharmacies.
General Lozada Morales added that initial extortive demands, referred to by the gang as matriculas, ranged between 30,000 soles and 50,000 soles per targeted business.
Seized explosives and criminal background
During the search of the Rimac property, officers confiscated seven mobile phones allegedly used to coordinate the extortions, a written threat letter addressed to the victim, three cartridges of dynamite, and 250 grams of marijuana.
According to police records, Leisi Erika Contreras Verastegui was previously reported for alleged identity theft in 2024. Authorities confirmed that Nancy Verastegui Gutierrez and Maricielo Calixto Contreras have no prior criminal records on file.
