Ecuador Orders Pretrial Detention for 10 in International Extortion Ring

An Ecuadorian judge has ordered the pretrial detention of ten people, including a Chinese national, for their alleged involvement in an international extortion ring. The group is accused of targeting debtors in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile.

Authorities apprehended the suspects during an operation that uncovered a clandestine call center in Quito. The center was reportedly staffed by approximately 112 individuals and contained devices used for making extortionate calls and threats, as well as displaying violent imagery.

According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the detainees are believed to have managed debt collection through intimidation tactics. They allegedly worked for a company named Latameris Support, led by the Chinese national, identified as Yang Xiao Long. He is accused of assigning roles such as leaders, auditors, accountants, and telephone operators to the other members.

The operation revealed that Latameris Support offered loans through a mobile application called Cash Cash to individuals in several Latin American countries. Applicants needed to provide a photo of their face and personal details to access these credits. When borrowers failed to meet collection targets, they faced sanctions, including salary deductions. The threats reportedly escalated when payments were delayed, with victims facing the dissemination of their photographs on social media, often accompanied by AI-generated montages designed to damage their reputation.

A direct trial has been scheduled for September 14.