Five Ecuadorian mayors detained in less than a year on alleged corruption charges
The detention of Darío Macas, mayor of Machala, brings to five the number of municipal leaders imprisoned in Ecuador in less than a year on alleged corruption charges.
Five Ecuadorian mayors detained in less than a year on alleged corruption charges
Police detained Darío Macas, mayor of Machala, on 6 July 2026 on the alleged charge of illicit enrichment. With this arrest, five local authorities with the rank of mayor are now deprived of liberty in Ecuador in a period of less than twelve months.
Macas joins the list of detained mayors that already includes Aquiles Álvarez, of Guayaquil; Vicko Villacís, of Esmeraldas; Ángela Plúa, of Jipijapa; and José Arroyo, of Pujilí. Three of these five mayors have links with the correísta movement Revolución Ciudadana, whilst one is related to Pachakutik.
According to statements from Interior Minister John Reimberg, the evidence supporting Macas's detention includes transactions exceeding USD 6 million and withdrawals worth USD 750,000. The mayor of Machala was apprehended in one of the cities most severely affected by criminal violence in the country.
Source: Primicias
Source: Google News EC — Crime