Seven doctors arrested in Ecuador face charges for protecting Albanian drug lord Rexhepi
Seven doctors detained in Guayaquil, Quito and Macas could lose their licences and face imprisonment for allegedly forging documents for drug trafficker Dritan Rexhepi.
Doctors arrested in three cities risk disqualification and prison in Rexhepi case
Seven healthcare professionals and one SNAI official were detained in the early hours of 21 September 2026, as part of a joint operation by the Police and Prosecutor's Office, according to extra.ec. The detainees are linked to an alleged network that reportedly favoured Albanian drug trafficker Dritan Rexhepi through irregular medical documents.
The 11 raids carried out in Guayaquil, Quito and Macas are the result of an investigation that extended over eight months, according to Interior Minister John Reimberg.
Criminal charges
Those charged face charges for alleged organised crime, procedural fraud, identity fraud, forgery and use of false documents, and perjury. The main accusations point to the preparation of medical certificates intended to justify alleged breaches by Rexhepi before Ecuadorian justice.
The network allegedly resorted to mechanisms such as false signatures and a latex glove to simulate the presence of the Albanian drug lord in the country, when he had already left it. If the Prosecutor's Office manages to prove the participation of those involved, those charged could face prison sentences depending on the offences that are brought and proven during the trial.
One of the detained doctors claimed to be innocent and stated that he had been brought in as a witness, not as a suspect.
Administrative sanctions in the healthcare system
Beyond the criminal sphere, the case could result in serious consequences for the careers of those involved. Health authorities could open administrative proceedings if it is determined that the doctors incurred irregularities during the exercise of their duties.
The Quality Assurance Agency for Health Services and Prepaid Medicine (ACESS) is the competent authority for registering and applying administrative sanctions against healthcare professionals. Depending on the gravity of the proven misconduct, measures can range from formal warnings to temporary suspensions or permanent disqualifications from practising within the national healthcare system.
Source: Google News EC — Guayaquil