United States expands visa sanctions against former Ecuadorian officials

The United States has expanded its list of ineligible individuals for entry into the country, targeting former Ecuadorian officials accused of facilitating organized crime and narcoterrorism. The Department of State has designated seven additional individuals, including former judges, a former legislator, and a former prison director, as ineligible. These sanctions extend to their immediate family members and can affect their assets.

Washington alleges these officials used their public positions to interfere in judicial and electoral processes to benefit criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Los Choneros, and Los Lobos. This move follows previous actions, such as the revocation of visas for judicial sector workers in 2022, as part of a broader U.S. policy to combat corruption and kleptocracy in the hemisphere.

The total number of sanctioned Ecuadorian officials has grown to fourteen, following investigations such as the Metástasis case. The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala has reinforced that Washington will not tolerate political corruption linked to drug trafficking organizations.