The legal team of Leonardo Cortázar, who was extradited to Ecuador from Panama on February 10, is asserting that he has been denied the opportunity to meet with his lawyer in the Cárcel del Encuentro, located in Santa Elena province. His attorney, Gustavo García, contends that this lack of access puts Cortázar in a position of complete defenselessness in the ongoing criminal case.

Cortázar arrived in Ecuador via the Quito airport before being quickly transported to Guayaquil and then by helicopter to the new prison facility. He was apprehended in Panama in March 2025 by Interpol agents at the request of Ecuadorian authorities, thus raising concerns over the treatment and rights of extradited individuals and the legal processes involved in their defense.

The situation highlights critical issues within the Ecuadorian justice system, particularly concerning due process rights for defendants who have undergone extradition processes. As the case progresses, it will be crucial to monitor how the courts and legal bodies address these allegations of defenselessness and whether such claims will affect the broader discourse around the treatment of extradited individuals in Ecuador.