Daniel Salcedo must tell Ecuador’s top court whether he accepts extradition to the United States

Daniel Salcedo Bonilla will appear before Ecuador’s National Court of Justice on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, to answer a single question with major consequences for his extradition case: does he agree to be sent to the United States, or will he oppose the request?

The hearing, scheduled for 3 p.m. in Quito, is the first proceeding in the extradition process. The court will ask Salcedo directly whether he accepts the request voluntarily. If he agrees, the case could move faster, potentially taking several weeks before a short hearing to authorize his extradition. If he objects, additional procedures could keep the process going for months.

The court’s summons follows statements by Interior Minister John Reimberg on Sept. 1 and 2 that Salcedo wanted to be extradited to the United States. Reimberg said Salcedo had expressed that preference during visits by officials from different institutions.

Once an extradition ruling becomes final and appeals have been resolved, the case will go to the president. The president must then decide whether to order or deny the transfer. That decision cannot be appealed.

Salcedo remains held at El Encuentro prison in Santa Elena. Authorities transferred him there from Prison 4 in Quito on June 9. He is also being prosecuted in the Magnicidio FV case, in which prosecutors are investigating the alleged masterminds behind the assassination of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

The case also names former minister José Serrano, businessman Xavier Jordán and former legislator Ronny Aleaga, along with alleged Los Lobos leaders Wilmer Chavarría, known as “Pipo,” Esteban Aguilar, known as “Lobo Menor,” and Luis Arboleda, known as “Gordo Luis.”

The extradition request adds to the legal cases behind Salcedo’s sentence of more than 34 years in prison. The offenses listed include procedural fraud, money laundering, embezzlement and organized crime.

The court has also summoned Ronald Herrera Ramírez for the same day. Herrera, described as a key prosecution witness in the Villavicencio case, will attend a 9 a.m. hearing to determine whether he accepts or opposes extradition.