'Pan de Piña' Transferred to Ecuador's 'El Encuentro' Prison After Recapture

Ecuadorian authorities have moved alleged criminal leader Marcos Armando Duarte Arévalo, also known as 'Pan de Piña,' to the maximum-security 'El Encuentro' prison, marking a new chapter in a case that has already sparked judicial controversy. The transfer follows his recent recapture.

Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo confirmed the move, emphasizing that the suspect is now "definitively behind bars." He stated on social media, "We said: 'Prison or hell,' and this one got 'El Encuentro prison.'" The security forces, in coordination with the National Police and the Minister of the Interior, John Reimberg, ensured the dangerous criminal was secured.

Minister Reimberg echoed these sentiments, writing on social media that Duarte "betrayed his uniform, betrayed the homeland. Today he is where he should be: in maximum security prison." The recapture occurred during a military operation in Daule on July 30, 2026, where Duarte and two other individuals, including a minor, were apprehended. Authorities seized a 9mm pistol, ammunition, and suspected heroin.

This recapture happened just 11 days after Duarte's release from custody. He had been detained on drug trafficking charges, but a judge imposed cautionary measures rather than preventive detention. This judicial decision drew criticism from Minister Reimberg, who filed a complaint against the prosecutor handling the case. Duarte is identified as a suspected leader of the 'Chone Killers' criminal organization.