Corruption and crime infiltration challenge institutions in Chile and Peru

In Chile, Cardinal Fernando Chomalí has warned that corruption acts as a “true cancer” that threatens the foundations of society. During an ecumenical Te Deum service, the Archbishop of Santiago stated that corruption facilitates organized crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. He emphasized that without integrity within state institutions, it is impossible to maintain healthy schools, reliable businesses, or safe streets.

In Peru, Interior Minister César Astudillo confirmed that criminal organizations are successfully infiltrating police training schools to recruit agents for their service. This admission contradicts previous denials from the National Police of Peru (PNP). To address the crisis, Astudillo announced a comprehensive reengineering of police intelligence, which has already led to the removal of several officers accused of acting as allies to organized crime and turning police zones into criminal-controlled territories.