Judge orders preventive detention for 17 people linked to drug trafficking network with European connections
An anti-corruption judge ordered preventive detention for 17 detainees in an operation against a criminal organisation that allegedly maintained ties with mafias from Albania and Poland to send drugs to Europe.
Judge orders preventive detention for 17 people linked to drug trafficking network with European connections
A judge specialised in anti-corruption issued a preventive detention measure against 17 individuals arrested during a large-scale operation deployed on 9 July 2026 in different locations throughout Ecuadorian territory. The judicial action aimed to dismantle a criminal network that, according to authorities, maintained connections with mafia organisations based in Poland and Albania.
Among those apprehended is Albanian citizen Daci P., whom law enforcement identifies as the alleged leader of the gang in the country. According to the General Prosecutor's Office, this individual received orders from the European continent and was responsible for organising logistics to transport narcotics to Ecuadorian ports, from where they were sent to different countries in Europe.
Also under investigation is Pole Jakimiec T., who was already in preventive detention for a case related to arms trafficking.
The raids and detentions were carried out simultaneously in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayas, Azuay and El Oro. The operation had the collaboration of the European Police (Europol), which provided technical support and intelligence to Ecuadorian authorities.
The Prosecutor's Office indicates that the criminal structure not only had connections with criminal groups from Eastern Europe, but also with irregular factions active in Colombia and in Ecuador itself.
The information was reported by Primicias.
Source: Google News EC — Crime