Peruvian investigators raided President Dina Boluarte’s residence on Saturday as part of an ongoing corruption probe involving undeclared costly watches.
According to a police document obtained by AFP, approximately 40 authorities took part in the operation, which was looking for Rolex watches that Boluarte had not publicly revealed.
The raid “is for the purpose of search and seizure,” according to police.
The embattled president did not appear to be at home during the incident. Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen condemned the raid as a “intolerable outrage” and “disproportionate and unconstitutional.”
Authorities initiated a probe into Boluarte this month after a news site published photos of her wearing costly timepieces at public engagements.
The police and prosecutor’s office collaborated on Saturday’s raid, which was shown on local television channel Latina.
Government agents were observed surrounding a residence in Lima’s Surquillo District, while officers stopped oncoming traffic.
The public prosecutor requested the surprise early-morning raid, which was allowed by the Supreme Court of Preparatory Investigation.
It happened after prosecutors denied Boluarte’s request for more time to reply to a subpoena requesting that she provide evidence of purchase for her watches.
‘Clean hands’
Boluarte, who was already suffering dropping support ratings, has been plunged into a new political crisis with the beginning of an investigation into whether she illegally profited herself while in office.
According to the constitution, if she is indicted in the matter, a trial could not take place until after her term ends in July 2026 or she is impeached before then.
Dozens of journalists converged to the president’s residence on Saturday, but prosecutors and officials present did not reply to queries.
The Peruvian presidential office similarly did not respond promptly.
The incident began when local news site “La Encerrona” reported in mid-March that Boluarte had worn numerous Rolex timepieces to official functions.
The site drew attention to the timepieces using photos from December 2022, when Boluarte became office.
The government comptroller later said that it will evaluate Boluarte’s asset declarations from the previous two years for any anomalies.
Boluarte, 61, has strongly defended herself.
“I entered the Government Palace with clean hands, and I will leave it with clean hands,” she was quoted as saying last week.
In response to concerns about how she could buy such expensive timepieces on a public income, she explained that they were the result of hard labor since she was 18 years old.
The lawyer and former vice president became Peru’s first female president after communist leader Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, prompting his swift removal and detention.
Violent protests demanding Boluarte’s resignation and new elections erupted, with over 50 people dead in the subsequent crackdown.