Ecuador's National Court seeks extradition of Xavier Jordán and Ronny Aleaga

Ecuador's Corte Nacional de Justicia formally requested the extradition of two fugitives, Xavier Jordán and Ronny Aleaga, to face organized‑crime charges in the Metástasis case. The request, issued on 14 July 2026 by the court’s specialized criminal chamber, was sent to the United States and Venezuela, the countries where the authorities believe the suspects are located.

Jordán is believed to be residing in the United States, while Aleaga is presumed to be in Venezuela. Both men remain under preventive detention orders in Ecuador, and their absence has kept the trial suspended because Ecuadorian law does not allow a judgment in absentia for organized‑crime offenses. In addition to the Metástasis investigation, the two are also mentioned in the probe into the 2023 assassination of former presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio.

The extradition request follows an earlier petition made in November 2024 and reflects ongoing cooperation mechanisms between Ecuador, the United States and Venezuela to address transnational organized‑crime networks.