No, owning a flamethrower in Peru is prohibited under Decreto Legislativo N° 1106 (2012), which classifies such devices as “dangerous weapons” without civilian exemptions. The Ministerio del Interior and Superintendencia Nacional de Control de Servicios de Seguridad, Armas, Municiones y Explosivos de Uso Civil (SUCAMEC) enforce this ban, with no permits issued for personal ownership. Violations may result in confiscation, fines up to 18 UIT (S/ 91,800 in 2024), or criminal charges under Código Penal Article 279-A.
Key Regulations for Owning a Flamethrower in Peru
- Absolute Prohibition: Decreto Legislativo N° 1106 explicitly bans flamethrowers, categorizing them alongside explosives and chemical weapons. No civilian licenses or exceptions exist under SUCAMEC’s Reglamento de Armas y Municiones.
- Enforcement by SUCAMEC: The agency conducts inspections and prosecutes illegal possession, with 2023 data showing 47 confiscations of prohibited incendiary devices. Imports require prior approval from the Ministerio de Defensa, which denies flamethrower requests.
- Penalties: Unauthorized possession triggers administrative fines (linked to UIT) and criminal liability under Ley N° 30055, with potential imprisonment of 4–8 years for aggravated cases involving public endangerment.
Note: Recent 2026 draft amendments to Decreto Legislativo N° 1106 propose stricter penalties for “non-lethal incendiary tools,” reinforcing the ban. Travelers carrying flamethrowers risk immediate detention under Ley de Control de Armas.