Ecuador minister slams court for granting leniency to alleged gang members

Ecuador's Interior Minister, John Reimberg, has publicly denounced a judicial decision that granted precautionary measures to four alleged members of the Los Lobos criminal organization. The minister stated that despite evidence presented by the police and the prosecutor's office linking these individuals to organized crime, a judge opted for less stringent measures than pre-trial detention.

Reimberg highlighted that the operation had dismantled a criminal structure linked to Los Lobos, arresting 11 individuals. However, during the charging hearing, a judge in Quito's specialized unit for corruption and organized crime cases decided to grant precautionary measures to four of the accused. The minister specifically named Juan Carlos Mancilla Montes, alias “Guareña,” Marcia Nelly Pomatoca Cuenca, María Valeria Torres Ávila, and Neydily Julitza Briones Rivas as beneficiaries of these measures.

The minister expressed strong criticism, questioning how long Ecuador will tolerate judicial decisions that weaken complex investigations into organized crime and generate public indignation. He emphasized that the fight against mafias requires the commitment of all state institutions, stating, “There cannot be a police force that risks its life to capture criminals and a justice system that sends the wrong signals to the country.” While seven other defendants were remanded in custody, Reimberg's remarks underscore a significant tension between law enforcement efforts and judicial outcomes in Ecuador.