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Peru Police Capture Fugitive Vilma Zeña in Nicolini Fire Exploitation Case

Police say a human-source tip led them to the longtime fugitive now awaiting judicial processing.

Overview

  • Officers detained Zeña on the rooftop of a four-story building on block 24 of Avenida Perú in San Martín de Porres between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m., according to Col. Eduardo Martín Cruz.
  • Investigators credit information from a human source, corroborated through intelligence work, for pinpointing her location.
  • Zeña holds a final 32-year sentence for aggravated human trafficking and extreme labor exploitation linked to the 2017 Galería Nicolini fire that killed two young workers locked in a container.
  • The Supreme Court affirmed her 32-year term in December 2025, while co-defendant Jonny Coico received a confirmed 35-year sentence.
  • After years on the most-wanted list with a S/50,000 reward, Zeña was taken into police custody for notification to the judge, and she publicly denied responsibility, calling the blaze “fortuitous.”