Gabriel Cortez photographed on July 21, 2021. Credit: DOLORES OCHOA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
(CNN Spanish) --
The Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office reported this Friday that, during an operation called "Poseidon", 29 raids were carried out that left 18 detainees allegedly related to the criminal organization "Los Tiguerones", to which they attribute acts of violence inside and outside prisons in recent months.
Among the detainees, according to the Police, are three active-duty agents and a professional soccer player.
The Ministry of the Interior confirmed to CNN that it is the midfielder of the Barcelona club in Ecuador, Gabriel Cortez.
CNN is trying to determine if Cortez has legal representation.
Meanwhile, the Barcelona Sporting Club made a statement through a statement in which it indicated that it will remain vigilant of the actions of the justice system and that it will take the corresponding measures at the appropriate time.
“Barcelona Sporting Club, given the public events that occurred with one of its players, will respect the proceedings and investigations carried out by the justice bodies.
At the same time, it emphasizes that the activities carried out in the private sphere by its players, employees and directors, are outside the institution and therefore there is no responsibility of the club, ”said the entity.
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The Minister of the Interior, Patricio Carrillo, reported that this operation – which the institution calls “Rescue Ecuador Great Impact 10”, and which was carried out in conjunction with the Prosecutor’s Office – dismantled a criminal organization responsible for different violent acts.
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“We are not going to allow Police officers to be immersed in acts of criminal violence,” Carrillo emphasized.
The minister reported that the alleged leaders of this criminal gang will be transferred to a special disciplinary regime to keep them isolated from the rest of the inmates.
"The government urges the administration of Justice so that those receive the corresponding criminal sanction," added Carrillo.
During this operation, carried out as part of investigations for alleged organized crime, 26 prosecutors participated and weapons, drugs and cell phones were seized in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Guayas and Manabí.
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The Police indicated that after these operations new criminal actions are not ruled out and that to face them a contingency plan will be deployed in the streets and prisons.
The Ministry of the Interior indicated that the Los Tiguerones gang has its criminal activities in the northern province of Esmeraldas and has links with the Oliver Sinisterra front, a FARC dissident.
"We do not rule out new facts, but the response of the National Police will be forceful," said Fausto Salinas, director of operations of the institution.
According to Police data, between January 1 and April 19, 2022, 1,184 cases of violent deaths have been registered in the country, almost double what was reported in the same period in 2021.