US bars seven former Ecuadorian officials over links to CJNG and Sinaloa Cartel
Washington has prohibited seven former Ecuadorian officials and their families from entering the country over ties to organised crime. The State Department accuses them of receiving bribes from the CJNG, Sinaloa, "Los Choneros" and "Los Lobos".
Washington bars entry to former judges, legislators and Ecuadorian prison directors
The United States State Department vetoed entry to the country this week for seven former Ecuadorian officials and their respective families, according to xevt.com. According to the official statement, those named would have received bribes from organisations classified as Foreign Terrorist Organisations: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the Sinaloa Cartel, "Los Choneros" and "Los Lobos".
Among those identified is Pablo Ramírez Erazo, former director of Ecuador's Penitentiary Authority; Wilman Terán Carillo, former judge of the National Court of Justice; and Ronaldo Xavier Guerrero Cruz, former criminal judge of the Judiciary Council. These three are accused of accepting illegal payments to interfere in judicial and electoral proceedings in favour of Ecuadorian gangs linked to the CJNG, "Los Choneros" and "Los Lobos".
The four remaining are Pablo Bolívar Muentes Alarcón, former member of the National Assembly; María Fabiola Gallardo Ramia, former president of the Provincial Court of Guayas; Johann Marfetán Medina, former criminal judge of the same court; and Mayra Carolina Salazar Merchán, former head of public relations of that institution. This group is accused of having abused their positions to favour "Los Choneros" and the Sinaloa Cartel in judicial proceedings.
"The actions of these former Ecuadorian officials constituted a case of large-scale corruption and had serious negative effects on the security of the United States, by fuelling drug trafficking and poisoning American communities," the State Department stated in its statement.
Source: Google News EC — Crime