Former police officer sentenced to 29 years for money laundering in Ecuador

A tribunal in Ecuador has handed down a sentence of 29 years and four months in prison to a former active police officer, Yomaira C., and Hernán P. for the crime of money laundering. The conviction was based on evidence presented by the State Attorney General's Office during the trial, which demonstrated the defendants' culpability.

The case originated on August 15, 2025, during anti-crime operations in Daule, Guayas province, conducted under a state of exception. Authorities searched a property where they discovered a suitcase containing $589,630 in cash hidden in a closet, along with an additional $2,461 found elsewhere in the residence. Three vehicles were also seized as evidence linked to money laundering activities.

To support its case, the prosecution presented testimonies from the involved police agents, technical inspection reports, evidence seizure records, and a specialized financial assessment. Commercial documents and tax records, along with financial system information, proved that Hernán P. had introduced $368,622.50 and Yomaira C. had introduced $132,594.79 into the market without a legitimate justification relative to their incomes, particularly for C. as a public servant.

The tribunal found the fiscal's arguments and evidence compelling, applying an aggravated penalty. The crime is classified under Article 317 of the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP), with an additional aggravating circumstance from Article 47 of the same code factored into the sentencing.