An international operation against alleged drug trafficking shook the world on Thursday, November 5, after two Ecuadorian politicians were arrested in Panama, while three others wanted by US justice were captured in Ecuador.
Those arrested in Panamanian territory are Jaime Estrada Bonilla, former mayor of Manta, and his son Jaime Estrada Medranda, former Ecuadorian assemblyman, who were located in the Punta Paitilla sector, in the city of Panama. Both are wanted by U.S. judicial authorities for their alleged involvement in crimes related to international drug trafficking.
The National Police confirmed the arrests through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Panama, following an operation that included intelligence work and information sharing with US agencies. The police action was not limited to Panama.
In Guayaquil, Ecuador, Jacobo Bucaram, son of former Ecuadorian president Abdalá Bucaram, and two other people identified as Geovanny Antonio Fernández Menéndez and William José Briones López were also arrested.
According to Ecuador’s Interior Minister, John Reimberg, the five citizens are wanted by US authorities for alleged drug trafficking offenses. The operation was coordinated by Ecuadorian and Panamanian authorities, as well as U.S. agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Reimberg indicated that the actions are part of international cooperation against drug trafficking structures and that the detainees were placed under the orders of the competent authorities, within the respective processes related to their possible extradition to the United States.
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