In Peru’s Ucayali region, members of the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard are patrolling deep Amazon forests to protect their ancestral lands from illegal coca cultivation, which fuels cocaine production and threatens their environment and lives. Armed with traditional weapons and a few old firearms, they cross rivers and dense jungles to locate hidden coca fields. Similarly, in northern Peru, the Wampis Indigenous people have formed a volunteer patrol group called Charip in 2024 to stop illegal gold mining and deforestation. Despite limited government support, Charip has achieved early success by detaining corrupt police officers and destroying illegal dredging machines. However, the group now faces manpower shortages as members receive no pay and risk their lives to defend their territory. Peru, the world’s second-largest cocaine producer, has seen coca cultivation nearly double since 2013, driving deforestation, corruption, and violence that have claimed the lives of at least 20 Indigenous leaders.