Arrests made in ring that sold human fat, Peru says

November 20, 2009 10:54 a.m. EST

• Peruvian authorities reported to have arrested gang who are selling human fat
• Officials investigating of at least 60 people
• Two suspects arrested with a plastic container with human fat in it

• Peru
• South America

(CNN) -- Peruvian authorities say they have arrested four members of a gang that specialized in selling fat obtained from dead humans. 

Officials are investigating the disappearance of at least 60 people who may have been killed by gang members in two mountainous states in central Peru, the nation's attorney general said in a release Wednesday. 

The four suspects have been charged with murder. 

Two of the suspects were arrested November 3 as they left a transport business with a plastic container with human fat in it. 

The fat was sold in Peru and Europe and used for commercial purposes, Peruvian officials said.