In Ecuador, a judge specializing in anti-corruption cases has ordered preventive imprisonment for 14 out of 16 accused individuals involved in organized crime associated with drug trafficking. These arrests occurred during a significant operation that took place across Pichincha, El Oro, and Guayas provinces, highlighting the country’s challenges with drug-related crime. Among those apprehended is a former assembly member from the Social Christian Party in El Oro, indicating the potentially extensive connections of organized crime within political circles.

The Ecuadorian government has stated that the suspects are believed to have links to the Albanian mafia, a group known for its international drug trafficking operations. Only two of the accused were not placed in preventive custody; one was granted house arrest due to being an elderly person, while the other was allowed home detention supported by medical documentation citing a heart surgery. These circumstances reflect a legal consideration for health issues among the accused, but the overall operation signifies a robust response to organized drug crime.

The operation, dubbed 'Costa,' is said to have dealt a significant blow to the economic interests of the Albanian mafia, estimated at more than $347 million. It included 26 searches across different locations, leading to the capture of 16 individuals. This coordinated effort illustrates the Ecuadorian government’s increasing efforts to combat drug trafficking and the complexities of international crime networks operating through Ecuadorian maritime ports, which are used for shipping drugs to Europe.