Cusco anti-drug police intervened and detained two alleged members of the suspected criminal group ‘Las Silenciosas del Sur’ for alleged drug trafficking involving the illegal transport of marijuana.[1] The detainees were identified as 33-year-old Nelly Roxana Paucar Quispe and 17-year-old A.T.H.[2] Authorities said neither had police records and the two had no direct family relationship.[2] They were travelling on an ‘HC Universal’ passenger bus bound for Juliaca when they were stopped.[1] After the case was placed with the Public Ministry, the adult woman remained detained at the police station while the minor was referred to the family prosecutor.[2]
The operation took place in the early hours of 28 October 2026 in the Muñapata sector of Urcos district, Quispicanchi province.[2] A search of the bus luggage hold found two bags holding four ovoid packages containing greenish dry herb.[1] Field testing of the herb with a chemical reagent returned positive for Cannabis sativa (marijuana).[1] Police weighed the seized cannabis at 35.190 kilograms.[2] Officers also seized two mobile phones.[1] The detainees, the seized substance and the other seized items were taken to Cusco for urgent proceedings with the Public Ministry representative.[1]
According to preliminary accounts, an unknown man approached the woman at the Cusco bus terminal and entrusted her with carrying the load to Juliaca, where third parties would collect it.[2] She was reportedly offered 400 soles for delivering the load.[2] Both remained silent on their defence counsel’s advice while police continued working to identify the man who handed over the load and the intended recipients in Juliaca.[2] The Cusco regional police chief said investigators presumed the marijuana was produced and processed in some valley in the Cusco department, with that line still under investigation.[2] Police said the drug will be destroyed once the criminal process is completed.[3]
