Quito police arrest three suspects in teenage extortion case

Police in Ecuador have arrested three individuals suspected of attempting to extort a 13-year-old boy in Quito. The group allegedly threatened the minor, demanding USD 5,000 or forcing him to participate in drug distribution. The threats included warnings against the lives of the boy and his family.

The investigation was triggered after the boy's mother made a USD 20 transfer to a bank account provided by the extortionists. This transaction allowed investigators to track the account to Juliana Cifuentes Jirón in Otavalo.

Following the lead, authorities apprehended Cifuentes Jirón in Otavalo. She claimed she had lent her account to her brother, José Efrén Cifuentes Jirón. Subsequently, police moved to the Quitumbe Terminal in southern Quito, where they arrested José Cifuentes and Edwin Isaac Verduga Castillo. Each suspect is believed to have held a specific role within the criminal structure.