Peru Prison Raid: Ex-Presidents Enjoy ‘Golden Cage’ Perks

While routine inspections are mandated – three per week across all correctional facilities – those checks haven’t always been consistently carried out. The operation at Barbadillo, a prison within the Police’s Diroes facility in the Ate district, differed from typical inspections as it was carried out by the INPE’s Penitentiary Security Directorate, with support from the Special Operations Group (GOES).

Previous weekly reports to the prison director, Héctor Sandoval, indicated no prohibited items were found. However, agents from the GOES discovered that Castillo had a television, exercise bike, radio, refrigerator, and a well-stocked kitchen.

The INPE’s General Security Regulations state that “all electronic devices such as radios, televisions, DVD players, etc., will be authorized by the Penitentiary Technical Council for collective use in designated areas.” In the case of Barbadillo, electronic items were intended for personal use, and authorities have requested the record of authorization from the Barbadillo Penitentiary Technical Council, which, as of this report, had not been provided by the establishment’s director.

Martín Vizcarra

Martín Vizcarra had a radio, a refrigerator, and a fan.

Ollanta Humala

Ollanta Humala, wearing a green polo shirt, receives the GOES officer, who noticed the microwave in his room.

Pedro Castillo

Authorities found a television, radio, exercise bike, refrigerator, and a fully equipped kitchen in Pedro Castillo’s space.

Alejandro Toledo

Alejandro Toledo simply observed the unexpected visit from the special agents.

Ollanta Humala was found to have a microwave, and Martín Vizcarra had a radio and small refrigerator. Vizcarra commented on the operation via his X account: “Today very early, a search was conducted in my room at Barbadillo, they thoroughly checked all drawers and compartments, even hitting the mattress, as expected they found nothing irregular.”

Authorities also noted that the security cameras are not operational, and are reviewing visitor logs for the former presidents, particularly those from members of Congress.

What we have is not the first time privileges have been discovered at Barbadillo. Former President Alberto Fujimori was also found to have a television, a public telephone at his disposal, and gardening tools.