The Interior Ministry racks up $138 million in purchases, drawing attention to a lack of transparency and alleged favoritism during the interim president’s term Jose Jerisaid a report published on Sunday by La República.
According to the newspaper, among the most frequently questioned contracts is the purchase of 56 counterinsurgency vehicles. The purchase has been postponed 12 times since the proceedings began on October 10th. The process for the purchase of 31,045 9x19mm pistols was also canceled after eight failed attempts to complete the procurement.
Another similar case concerns the purchase of 56 four-wheel-drive armored vehicles; The tender was postponed seven times without the corresponding entry being found in the electronic contract and contract system. State awards (SEA).
In addition, the portfolio’s General Office of Administration and Finance (OGAF) awarded the purchase of an Antonov AN-74 aircraft to United Arab Emirates-based Aero Express FZE for $63.9 million. According to the Ukrainian ambassador to Peru, this company is run by Russian citizens. The Police Aviation Directorate had rejected the model offered because it did not meet the technical specifications. Despite the auditor’s report showing a lack of transparency, OGAF awarded the contract.
The purchase of 3,164 bulletproof vests shows the same trend. The OGAF awarded the takeover to the Mexican company Armor Life Lab, ignoring the rejection of the National Police due to lack of compliance with the technical principles.
These five takeover processes involve complaints about changing locations, manipulation to favor certain bidders and favoritism towards foreign companies. According to the newspaper, the total amount committed in these contracts is $137.9 million, broken down as follows:
- AN-74 aircraft: $63.9 million
- 43 emergency vehicles: $26 million
- 56 4×4 armored vehicles: $24 million
- 31,045 9x19mm pistols: $22 million
- 3,164 bulletproof vests: $2 million
Complaints include cases such as that of the Mexican company Armor Life Lab, which was favored in the purchase of bulletproof vests, and that of Aero Express FZE in the acquisition of the Antonov AN-74 aircraft. The participating companies have submitted documents showing that the technical basis has been changed to benefit certain competitors.
Resolution No. 149-2025-IN-SG, issued on August 15, allowed direct procurement by the OGAF, replacing the usual tender mechanisms and intergovernmental contracts, facilitating discretionary allocation even if the technical opinion of the National Police (PNP) end-users was ignored.
The change in leadership in the OGAF has not resulted in any change in these patterns. After departure from Ricardo Kanashiro After questions about purchasing bulletproof vests and a chance trip to Mexico, he was replaced with Ronnie Matienzowho awarded equally controversial contracts and resigned from office due to new irregularities.
According to the latest CPI poll, 52% of Peruvians support the president’s leadership, while 85.7% of Congress faces opposition and only 7.7% support. Citizens’ greatest distrust, meanwhile, is in the Public Ministry, followed by the National Police, and the majority believe that the government’s measures against insecurity are ineffective.
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