Stickers are no longer just simple decorations on public transport units. Today they represent a kind of criminal control that extends throughout Lima, especially in areas such as Saint Martin de Porres and San Juan de Miraflores. These stickers, which appear harmless due to their childish designs – such as Taz, dolphins, crowns or the LaBobos character – serve as codes to identify vehicles that have paid daily fees to the gangs designated for extortion. Its presence not only facilitates the collection process, but also sends a direct message to those who resist: the roads no longer belong to the couriers, but to criminal organizations that operate with complete violence.
The attack recorded in Pamplona Alta, two weeks ago, reflects the seriousness of this phenomenon. A young man died inside a pirate truck, in an event that, according to the police, would be related to the collection of quotas. The attacker pretended to be a passenger, asked to stop the car, and when he opened the door, he opened fire inside. The projectile did not hit the driver – who would be the target – but rather hit the passenger, Luis Caja Salcedo. Despite attempts to cordon off the area, the attacker fled through the Strip’s corridors.
This type of incident is repeated in other areas of Lima, where extortionists have standardized visual identification systems, but they are difficult to detect for those who do not know criminal logic. In this new extortion map, stickers are key to distinguishing between a vehicle that has “complied” and one that is resisting, a line that can mean life or death for drivers.
The extortion method extended to buses, vans and minibuses, especially those operating informally. Drivers, who feel fear and uncertainty, confirm that these payments are made daily and that the stickers are proof that the money has been delivered. Another driver confirms that they do not even know who is threatening them every time: “We only know what is paid, not the amount of 20 soles.”
Extortionists demand between five and seven sols per unit per day, but couriers point out that they often have to hand over additional sums when a second or third criminal group emerges. “Daily newspapers for every vehicle,” he explains. “When you ask the commanders, the commanders say yes, yes we are paying, but another group is threatening us again. This is their response.”
Drivers from companies like Santa Catalina confirm that this is already the fourth threat of the year. Many workers stopped driving after being exposed to armed attacks: “The bullet entered the side of the abdomen, two bullets, and so far our colleague has not recovered yet,” says one of the injured.
The Itonigisa case also reveals the level of aggressiveness. An assassin shot the driver on the road. After failing in his attempt to escape – as his motorcycle was unable to start – he ended up pushing the car and escaping on foot after losing his weapon. The driver, despite his injury, continued to advance to protect the passengers.
These episodes show that the stickers are not a decorative symbol but part of a surveillance network. The sticker indicates who has paid, who should pay, and who becomes the next target.