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Jacobo Bucaram and four others charged by US for cocaine trafficking
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have charged Jacobo Abdala Bucaram-Pulley, son of former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram, along with four other Ecuadorians for conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and Europe. The defendants include former legislator Jaime Estrada Medranda, his father Jaime Estrada Bonilla, Geovanny Fernández Menéndez, and William José Briones López.
According to US authorities, the group allegedly used a seafood export company to hide large quantities of cocaine in containers of legitimate goods, such as tuna. Prosecutors claim the network played a critical role in making Ecuador a major transit point for cocaine destined for the US and Europe, often collaborating with criminal organizations like Los Choneros and Los Lobos.
In a coordinated regional operation involving the DEA, Interpol, and local police, three individuals were detained in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and two were arrested in Panama. The detainees are currently facing extradition proceedings to the United States. The US Attorney’s Office has also requested the seizure of assets and firearms linked to the alleged criminal operations.
Entities
Abdalá Bucaram · Abdalá Bucaram Ortiz · DEA · Ecuador · Ecuadorian National Police · Guayaquil · Interpol · Jacobo Abdala Bucaram-Pulley · Jacobo Bucaram Pulley · Jamie McDonald · John Reimberg
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Jacobo Bucaram and his father were sentenced to nine years and four months in prison for organized crime in Ecuador. deultimominuto.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · www.tvn-2.com
- [● 10 SOURCES] Two other individuals were arrested in Panama during the operation. www.elcomercio.com · www.ertnews.gr · www.zougla.gr · ecuador221.com.ec · br.paipee.com · +4 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Abdalá Bucaram rejected the domestic court ruling, calling it a political persecution. cerolatitud.ec · deultimominuto.com · br.paipee.com · www.elnuevosiglo.com.co · www.tvn-2.com · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] The domestic sentence involved the irregular commercialization of approximately 21,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests. deultimominuto.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · www.tvn-2.com
- [● 16 SOURCES] Jacobo Bucaram Pulley was arrested in Guayaquil on November 4, 2026. cerolatitud.ec · deultimominuto.com · www.elcomercio.com · www.ecuadortimes.net · elnuevodiario.com.do · +7 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Jacobo Bucaram is subject to an Interpol Red Notice. cerolatitud.ec · deultimominuto.com · www.elcomercio.com · www.ecuadortimes.net · elnuevodiario.com.do · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The United States judicial authorities requested the arrest of Jacobo Bucaram. cerolatitud.ec · deultimominuto.com · www.elcomercio.com · www.ecuadortimes.net · elnuevodiario.com.do · +6 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] The arrest is allegedly related to drug trafficking. www.elcomercio.com · www.ertnews.gr · www.zougla.gr · ecuador221.com.ec · br.paipee.com · +10 more