Peruvian judge gunned down

LIMA, July 21 (UPI) -- A leading Peruvian judge prosecuting alleged drug traffickers with supposed ties to the Mexican mob has been killed, El Coercion reported Friday.

Judge Herman Saturn Verger was having dinner with his cousin at the time of the attack, authorities said. The cousin -- a lawyer -- was hurt in Thursday's assault, which was said to be committed by a lone gunman.

Verger was among the three judges trying 25 suspects accused of orchestrating the shipment of cocaine from Peru through Mexico and into the United States.

Peru is the world's second-largest producer of cocaine behind Colombia.