The Minister of the Interior, César Astudillo, confirmed this Tuesday the arrest in Bolivia of Jhon Smith Cruz Arce, alias ‘Jhon Pulpo’, identified as one of the main leaders of the criminal organization ‘Los Pulpos’, which operates mainly in Trujillo and other areas of the country.
‘Jhon Pulpo’ is linked to crimes of aggravated robbery with subsequent death, qualified homicide, contract killing, criminal organization, and aggravated kidnapping, among others.
In an interview with Canal N, Astudillo reported that he received communication about the capture from the general commander of the National Police and the intelligence teams that monitor this criminal organization.
“A few minutes ago, the general commander of the Police informed me, through his teams, that in Bolivia Jhon Pulpo, the main leader of this criminal organization Los Pulpos, has been arrested”, said the minister.
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César Astudillo, Minister of the Interior: I am going to Trujillo, not to give an interview, but to take actions directly related to control, order, and security
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According to Astudillo, ‘Jhon Pulpo’ would be the main leader of Los Pulpos and would have influence in Trujillo, a city where this organization has been linked to various criminal acts, including extortions, kidnappings, and other acts of violence.
The head of the Ministry of the Interior indicated that the detainee will be transferred to Peru to answer for the investigations against him.
Arrest will be part of police investigations
Astudillo highlighted the importance of the capture for the investigations carried out by the National Police against ‘Los Pulpos’. However, he avoided anticipating whether the arrest of its main leader will imply the definitive dismantling of the criminal organization.
The minister stated that the authorities will continue working to identify and arrest the other members of ‘Los Pulpos’.
He also indicated that they seek to determine the degree of responsibility of each of the investigated individuals in the different crimes attributed to the organization.
Who else was ‘Jhon Pulpo’ with?
During the intervention, Gabriel Alexander Saul Mendocilla Gómez was arrested. Also, two Peruvian passports were found in their possession: one with No. 124540326, in the name of Julio César Reyes Ordinola, and another with No. 120653497, in the name of Ronaldo Fabricio Caballero Tuesta.
Additionally, DNI No. 70864712, belonging to Reyes Ordinola, and two Bolivian identity cards were found: one with No. 9939544, in the name of Edilson Junior Díaz Quispe, and another with No. 13153378, in the name of Axel Arturo Aguilar Portugal.
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