Quito public works contracts under investigation for alleged $64 million fraud

Ecuadorian authorities and officials are investigating allegations of corruption involving approximately $64 million in public works contracts managed by the Metropolitan Public Company for Mobility and Public Works (EPMMOP) in Quito.

Quito City Councilor Michael Aulestia has filed formal complaints with the Attorney General's Office for alleged embezzlement and money laundering. The investigation, dubbed the ‘Asfalto de Oro’ (Golden Asphalt) case, suggests that a single provider used a network of companies, consortia, and individuals to concentrate contract awards and bypass legal prohibitions against awarding new projects to contractors with pending works.

José Julio Neira, Secretary of Public Administration, and Nataly Avilés, Director of the National Public Procurement Service (Sercop), highlighted patterns identified between March and September 2026. These patterns indicate that various legal entities were used to funnel infrastructure and road maintenance projects to a single interest. Additionally, political figures including Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz and former Revolución Ciudadana president Luisa González have been linked to broader investigations involving irregular campaign financing and asset laundering.