Drug suspect Cesar Caicedo to return to prison after medical discharge, house arrest revoked

César Caicedo, who was apprehended in "Operation Nodriza" for drug-related offenses, is set to return to prison as soon as he receives medical clearance. An appeals court has overturned the house arrest he was previously under.

The Public Prosecutor's Office successfully argued for the revocation of his house arrest, reinforcing their position in the case linked to drug trafficking. Caicedo has been hospitalized since May 20, 2026, and the court's decision mandates his return to a correctional facility once he is medically discharged.

Caicedo faces charges for drug offenses following his capture on December 3, 2025. The Public Prosecutor's Office alleges he was the ringleader of a criminal organization that used coastal properties in Vacamonte to receive, store, and transport drug shipments. Notably, Caicedo is also the father of Dayra Caicedo, who was kidnapped in February 2025 and released a month and a half later. His daughter's ordeal brought his case to public attention when he appealed to the media for help during her captivity.

His legal situation has been complex, with previous instances of house arrest being revoked. Initially, he received house arrest in December 2025 due to health reasons, but the prosecution successfully challenged this, aiming for imprisonment. In May 2026, a judge granted him release from prison to a residence in Villa Lucre, despite his reported usual residence being in Panama Oeste.

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The decision, adopted at the request of the Court, orders that Caicedo return to a penitentiary center once he is medically cleared.