Two police officers were killed Tuesday in a roadside ambush on their patrol vehicle in Peru’s eastern jungle. Officer Wilfredo Otarola and Officer Jaime Ruiz were attacked during broad daylight on a road between Villa Rica, in Oxapampa Province and Puerto Bermúdez, in Satipo. Otarola died immediately after the attack and Ruiz was transported to a local hospital where he passed away shortly after, Agencia Andina reported.
It is unclear how many attackers participated in the ambush, however, according to daily El Comercio the group was led by a woman and connected to Peru’s growing drug trade. The officers were reportedly ambushed in retaliation for drug seizures on the route last year. Police also seized illegal lumber and fuels from organized crime networks on the same road.
