The Ecuadorian Police arrested two Colombian citizens identified as members of an international drug trafficking structure, in an operation carried out in coordination with the DEA, as detailed this Tuesday by the Minister of the Interior, John Reimberg.

The detainees are Nerlin Pineda Paredes, alias “Familia”, considered a high-value target by the Ecuadorian authorities, and Alver Pineda Mosquera, alias “Mono” or “Promesa”, another priority target for the authorities.

Reimberg pointed out that both criminals are wanted “for purposes of extradition to the United States” and that they are “key pieces” of a drug trafficking organization linked to Edison Washington Prado Álava, alias Gerald, a drug trafficker known as Ecuador's “Pablo Escobar” who was extradited to US territory in 2017.

Reimberg shared an image of the detainees on social networks, and added: “Criminals have no hiding place in Ecuador, we find them and catch them.”

Investigations indicate that those captured would have controlled drug processing laboratories, collection centers and chemical supplies in strategic areas of Colombia, from where they allegedly supplied drug trafficking routes to Central America, Mexico and the United States.

The investigations also established that those now detained had attempted to infiltrate FARC demobilization processes.

According to the investigations, they sought to obtain illegal benefits by paying millionaire sums of money.

With information from EFE.