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LIMA, Peru. The 'collection of quotas' is a form of extortion that is increasingly expanding in Lima and its outskirts.

In the first months of the year, crimes against cisgender women engaged in sex work were recorded in downtown Lima. Now, organized crime groups are expanding their terror to other parts of the Peruvian capital, and have claimed their first trans victim, Patricia Mazzini Manco, who was murdered on March 15, shot seven times by two hitmen. 

The incident occurred at kilometer 36.5 of the old Pan-American Highway South, in Lurín, on the outskirts of Lima, an area known for hosting sex workers at night. Members of the Lurín Criminal Investigation Department of the National Police arrived at the crime scene.

With the recorded data, witness testimonies and security camera videos from nearby businesses, the case fell into the hands of the deputy prosecutor, Dr. Lizbeth Gómez, of the 2nd Office of the Provincial Corporate Criminal Prosecutor's Office of Lima South.

“We became aware of the case and have gathered all the information provided to us by the police officers of the Lurín Criminal Investigation Division (Depincri). We know the circumstances in which the events occurred and we know the identity of the victim; therefore, the case file was opened under the name of Patricia Mazzini, which is how she identified herself, according to witnesses,” the representative of the Prosecutor's Office told Agencia Presentes.

The investigation

According to the prosecutor's office, they acted as quickly as possible to determine who was responsible for the crime.

“With all the information gathered, we have referred the case to the Homicide Investigation Division of the Lima Police (headquarters), so that, with all the data provided, they can continue the investigation and bring justice to Patricia's family,” highlighted prosecutor Gómez.

Meanwhile, the trans woman's family members are awaiting the corresponding legal proceedings.

“Only on Tuesday (March 29) did we receive the autopsy results, which allows us to begin following up on the case. We truly want justice; we don't want our sister's case to remain unresolved,” said Melissa Mazzini, the victim's sister, between sobs.

Transgender sex workers targeted by extortionists

Sex workers used to pay pimps for protection and care, even though pimping is a crime in Peru, but they normalized the 'security' provided in exchange for money.

However, that situation has changed, and now extortion gangs charge them a fee for the right to stand and offer their services. These fees range from 200 soles ($54 USD) to 300 soles ($80 USD) per week per woman.

“It makes me feel powerless knowing that they charge the girls, even though they don't even take care of them. Last time, one of them came up to me and said that if I didn't pay him, he was going to shoot me. That's why I'm willing to do something, to record them. What's more, I'm even willing to give my full name to file a legal complaint and get them arrested,” bravely reveals the sex worker, whose initials are RK, from the Villa El Salvador district, also located south of Lima.

“The fact that there is sex work in Lurín caught my attention; there wasn't any before. Perhaps now, because of the summer season, there's more business due to its proximity to the beaches. Because in South Lima, San Juan de Miraflores is the district that concentrates sex work in this part of the city,” warns Gabriela Mariño, a trans activist with the Ángel Azul Association.

Furthermore, it explains how fear and corruption lead them to eventually give in to the threats of these criminals.

“While extortion of sex workers isn't new, it has increased significantly due to the influx of foreign migrants. Currently, those of us who work in the sex industry are constantly migrating and moving from one district to another, or from one region to another, out of fear of reprisals. When we report these crimes and give our names, the police often give them to the extortionists. That's why many of us are afraid to report them and end up paying protection money,” Gaby explains.

During the last few weeks, the Municipality of Lima has led operations against prostitution on the streets of downtown Lima; however, this has only caused outrage among the trans population, who point out that efforts should be focused on catching the extortion gangs that instill so much terror among sex workers.