Ambassador Michael Fitzpatrick said that his country has withdrawn visas for “narco generals” and that they are concerned about the infiltration of drug trafficking in Ecuador.
The Government and Defense ministries from Ecuador issued a joint statement in which they indicate that the United States has not withdrawn the visa of any of the generals who are in command of these two institutions.
The Government thus responds to the statements made by the United States Ambassador to Ecuador, Michael Fitzpatrick, on the concern regarding the infiltration of drug trafficking in the forces of order and the declaration that there are “Narcogenerales” those whose visas are being withdrawn to prevent them from entering that country.
????COMMUNICATED | Before the declarations of the @USembassyEC Michael Fitzpatrick, on the existence of “narco generals”, from this State Portfolio and the Ministry of @DefenseEc We inform that no General on active duty has had their visa withdrawn by the United States. pic.twitter.com/YmFeRxDMNJ
– Ministry of Government Ecuador (@MinGobiernoEc) December 13, 2021
“We are very concerned about the penetration of drug trafficking in Ecuador and in the forces of order. And President (Joe) Biden has just announced a new national anti-corruption strategy, which has a lot to do with our multilateral work to counter these types of problems (…) This week there is the case of the ‘narco-generals’ and we have already withdrawn visas. I can’t name names. But we are already investigating all these cases and others, “Fitzpatrick told the online newspaper. First fruits.
The Defense Minister, Luis Hernández and the Minister of Government, Alexandra Vela they “cordially” requested the ambassador to deliver the information related to the issue so that the Ecuadorian institutions can initiate the investigations of the case.
The United States has withdrawn visas from Ecuadorian ‘narcogenerales’
“The government ministry and the Ministry of Defence they ratify their firm commitment in the fight against drug trafficking; as well as with prevention and action to prevent contamination and action by the public force at any level, ”the statement concluded.
The link between drug trafficking and the military is not something new in Ecuador.
Ex-military Telmo Castro, sentenced for drug trafficking and released by a judge, is detained in Guayaquil
The Former Army Captain Telmo Castro, killed in the Guayaquil Regional Jail In December 2019, he asked to be discharged in 2009, because he was under investigation for his alleged connections to drug trafficking. He worked in the intelligence group. (I)
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