Eight arrested in Ecuador over fake certificate network benefiting Albanian drug trafficker
Police and prosecutors carried out 11 raids in Guayaquil, Quito and Morona Santiago. Among those detained are doctors from the Ministry of Public Health and officials from the National Service for the Integral Care of Incarcerated Adults and Adolescent Offenders.
Operation against fake document network linked to Albanian drug trafficker yields eight arrests
The National Police and the Office of the Prosecutor General arrested eight people and executed 11 raids in Guayaquil, Quito and Morona Santiago, as part of an investigation into an alleged corruption and organised crime network. According to elcomercio.com, among those detained are doctors and former doctors from the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), officials from the National Service for the Integral Care of Incarcerated Adults and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI), and individuals linked with the legal defence of Albanian citizen Dritan Rexhepi.
Interior Minister John Reimberg explained that the network allegedly used irregular medical certificates, fake documents, forged signatures and attendance records to benefit Rexhepi, who was sentenced in Ecuador to 13 years in prison for drug trafficking.
Rexhepi left the country under false identity in 2022
Rexhepi left Ecuador through the Rumichaca border crossing on 7 September 2022, using a false identity, according to Reimberg. Authorities subsequently detained him in Turkey in November 2023.
Despite the Albanian being outside the country, the investigation found that presentations made in his name continued to be recorded at the SNAI and medical certificates continued to be issued in Ecuador. The network allegedly used these documents to make it appear that Rexhepi was fulfilling his legal obligations within Ecuadorian territory.
Fingerprint reproduced with latex glove
One of the most striking elements found during the investigation, according to Reimberg, was the reproduction of Rexhepi's fingerprint using a latex glove. This manoeuvre allegedly made it possible to generate records that simulated his physical presence and compliance with his penitentiary obligations.
To this method were added forged signatures, fraudulent documentation, irregular medical certificates and false attendance records, all allegedly used to maintain the appearance that the Albanian drug trafficker remained under control in Ecuador.
Manipulation of judicial and penitentiary procedures
Reimberg indicated that network members allegedly manipulated both judicial procedures and penitentiary controls to benefit Rexhepi. Authorities are investigating those involved for alleged organised crime, procedural fraud, identity fraud, forgery and use of fake documents, and perjury.
The eight detained individuals allegedly played different roles within the structure: some in the production of irregular medical certificates, others in recording attendance at the SNAI and others in managing the legal defence of the convicted man.
"Everyone falls here. There is no impunity"
The Interior Minister stressed that the operation is part of a policy to fight corruption without distinction of profiles. "Everyone falls here. White collar or not, there is no impunity. It is only a matter of time," Reimberg stated.
The investigation continues with the aim of establishing the degree of participation of each of the eight detained individuals and reconstructing the complete functioning of the network, which according to the Interior Ministry allegedly coordinated medical, penitentiary and fraudulent documentation resources over several years to benefit the Albanian citizen.
Source: Google News EC — Guayaquil