Former Ecuadorian Official Arrested in Guatemala on U.S. Extradition Request

Wilson Mendoza Barberán, a former Ecuadorian official under Rafael Correa, has been arrested in Guatemala. He faces extradition to the United States on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Guatemalan anti-narcotics police apprehended him at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City as he was attempting to board a flight back to Ecuador.

Mendoza Barberán, 61, is accused by U.S. authorities of conspiring to distribute cocaine, knowing it would be illegally imported into the United States. A Guatemalan court issued an arrest warrant for his extradition on August 17, 2026, two days before his capture.

The arrest adds to the ongoing extradition process Mendoza Barberán faces. Guatemalan police reported that this is the 32nd person arrested this year for extradition to the U.S., with 19 cases related to drug trafficking. The country's strategic location makes it a key transit point for international drug cartels moving narcotics from South America to the North American market.