Television host Andrés Hurtado, who is currently serving 18 months of preventive detention for influence peddling, bribery, and money laundering, has been connected to an agent from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and his Peruvian husband, who is a childhood friend of the presenter.
According to an investigation from the program Beto A Saber, Gary Bertonis, a 59-year-old American, and his spouse, Juan José Boullion Carbajal, frequently visited Hurtado at an apartment located in the José Pardo business center in the affluent Miraflores district.
The luxurious property, which was inaugurated in 2023 and is decorated with Versace details, features a grand piano and stuffed animals, as per images aired by the program. Although Boullion Carbajal posted photos of the apartment on Facebook, he is not listed as the owner in public records.
The investigation revealed that Bertonis owns properties in New York and Florida, while his husband has two properties in Florida valued at $200,000 and $98,000, respectively. Beto A Saber also reported that they rented an apartment to Cuban singer Dalia Durán, a survivor of domestic violence, as part of a donation made to Hurtado’s program in July 2021.
According to his immigration documents, the presenter has traveled to the United States at least 65 times. Additionally, public records indicate that since 2019, he has been listed as a representative of Demetrio Chávez Peñaherrera, known as ‘Vatican’, who was considered the largest drug trafficking kingpin in Peru during the 1990s.
After his arrest in 1994, ‘Vatican’ alleged that former presidential advisor Vladimiro Montesinos charged him $50,000 per month for the military presence in the Alto Huallaga jungle area, allowing small planes carrying cocaine to depart for Pablo Escobar, the head of the Medellín cartel.
It is estimated that he trafficked between 300 and 450 tons of coca paste per year, accounting for 80% of the Peruvian production at that time, which was later transformed into high-purity cocaine in Colombia. His fortune was estimated to be between $400 million and $1 billion. Hurtado was authorized to manage the assets of ‘Vatican’, conduct banking procedures, request loans, and establish companies in his name, receiving power to represent him in the media as his manager, according to a public deed dated June 11, 2019.
Hurtado’s lawyer, Elio Rivera, stated that he did not know the reasons for his client’s role as the legal representative of the former boss. Meanwhile, criminal lawyer Alejandro Salas remarked that “the involvement of a DEA agent in this case is not surprising, considering there are instances of drug trafficking where DEA agents have been caught aiding the drug trade and money laundering.”
The presenter has also been implicated in a case of alleged illegal gold trafficking, for supposedly intervening on behalf of a family business to recover a shipment of seized gold in exchange for a commission of one million dollars. In this case, the judiciary ordered 18 months of preventive detention against him, although it did not impose prison time on prosecutor Elizabeth Peralta and businessman Javier Miu Lei, who are also part of the investigation but must continue the process under certain restrictions.
Peralta is required to pay a bond of 35,000 soles, and Miu Lei must pay one million soles within three business days. The artist was arrested last Thursday, while the National Control Authority of the Public Ministry announced that the magistrate, specialized in money laundering, has been preventively removed from her position after being accused of allegedly accepting illegal commissions to intervene in the case.
Andrés Hurtado: A Deep Dive into Legal Troubles and Allegations
Television host Andrés Hurtado, currently facing 18 months of preventive detention, has been embroiled in a web of serious allegations involving influence peddling, bribery, and money laundering. Recent investigations have linked him to Gary Bertonis, a 59-year-old American agent of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Bertonis’ Peruvian husband, Juan José Boullion Carbajal.
An investigation by the popular program Beto A Saber unveiled the frequent visits of Bertonis and Boullion Carbajal to an upscale apartment located in the José Pardo business center of the affluent Miraflores district. This luxurious property, recently inaugurated in 2023, features opulent stylings, including Versace décor, a grand piano, and stuffed animals.
Assets and Investigative Findings
The investigation revealed that Bertonis is the owner of properties in New York and Florida, while Boullion holds two properties in Florida, valued at $200,000 and $98,000, respectively. Notably, the couple previously rented an apartment to Dalia Durán, a Cuban singer and survivor of gender violence, as part of a donation to Hurtado’s show in July 2021.
The television presenter will remain in prison until March 2026. Photo: Andina
Connections to Drug Trafficking Figures
Further investigations revealed that Hurtado has made at least 65 visits to the United States. Documents highlight his role since 2019 as a representative for Demetrio Chávez Peñaherrera, infamously known as ‘Vatican’ and one of Peru’s most notorious drug trafficking kingpins from the 1990s.
Hurtado’s Role and Allegations
It is estimated that ‘Vatican’ was responsible for trafficking between 300 to 450 tons of coca paste per year, which constituted around 80% of Peru’s production. Hurtado allegedly held the authority to manage ‘Vatican’s’ assets, handle banking transactions, request loans, and establish companies under his name, which he gained through a public deed dated June 11, 2019.
Andrés Hurtado ‘Chibolín’ will serve his preventive detention in March 2026. (Photo: Andina)
Legal Perspectives and Future Implications
Hurtado’s legal representative, Elio Rivera, claims that he is unaware of why his client was designated as the legal representative of the ex-drug lord. In contrast, criminal lawyer Alejandro Salas remarked that having a DEA character in this scheme is not surprising, as there have been instances where DEA agents have accidentally aided drug trafficking networks or money laundering operations.
Other Involvements
This recent investigation is not Hurtado’s only brush with controversy. He is implicated in an illegal gold trafficking case, where it is alleged that he intervened for a family business in exchange for a commission of one million dollars. Although the judiciary has ordered his preventive detention, the same was not applied to prosecutor Elizabeth Peralta or businessman Javier Miu Lei, who remain under investigation with restrictions.
Legal Financial Obligations
Peralta must post a bond of 35,000 soles, while Miu Lei faces a bond requirement of one million soles, to be paid within three business days. The national authority representing the Public Ministry has reported that the specialized magistrate focused on money laundering has been removed from her position due to allegations of illegal commission-taking.
Key Takeaways
The situation surrounding Andrés Hurtado serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding high-profile individuals embroiled in legal and ethical dilemmas. His connections to significant figures in drug trafficking and recent revelations raise serious questions about the integrity of those operating within the media, political, and judicial realms.
