Son of Baldor Bermeo apprehended in Puerto Bolívar on August 8, 2026

Ecuadorian police arrested five people, including a son of former Camilo Ponce Enríquez mayor Elías Baldor Bermeo Cabrera, during an operation in Puerto Bolívar on August 8, 2026. The Interior Minister, John Reimberg, announced the arrests, stating the group was apprehended for alleged robbery following a police pursuit. The anti-crime operation took place in the Muelle Divino Niño area. Among those detained were three minors, identified as 17-year-old B.T.B.E. (son of Baldor Bermeo), and two other individuals aged 17. Two young adults, aged 19 and 18, were also arrested. Police seized a cell phone as evidence during the procedure, but details regarding the alleged stolen item or the circumstances leading to the chase were not provided. The arrested individuals have been handed over to the relevant authorities for legal proceedings. Elías Baldor Bermeo Cabrera, a businessman involved in the mining sector, served as mayor from 2019 to 2023. He was previously arrested on July 28, 2026, as part of an investigation into an alleged money laundering scheme linked to illegal mining and explosives distribution. That earlier operation involved multiple raids and several arrests, with authorities also examining potential ties to the Los Lobos criminal group.