Jacobo Bucaram, son of former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram, was arrested in Guayaquil on Nov. 4 on suspicion of links to drug trafficking, authorities said. (Foto: Instagram)
Jacobo Bucaram, the son of former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram, was arrested in Guayaquil on Wednesday, Nov. 4, on suspicion of links to drug trafficking, Ecuadorian authorities said. National Police detained him along with two other people.
Interior Minister John Reimberg announced the arrest and said the government would extradite five people to the United States. Two additional suspects were arrested in Panama. Reimberg said all five had Interpol Red Notices and were wanted by U.S. authorities for alleged drug-related offenses.
“The message is clear: There are no privileges, no one is untouchable, and there is no room for impunity,” Reimberg said. He added that, under President Daniel Noboa’s leadership, the National Police and the Security Bloc would continue to act firmly, and that anyone with outstanding legal matters would have to answer for them.
Abdalá Bucaram defended his son in social media posts, denouncing the accusations as malicious and driven by hatred toward his family. He recalled that he had also faced drug trafficking accusations in 1986 and said he was later asked for forgiveness. The former president said he believed his son would be cleared in the United States, arguing that the country’s judicial system was fair and would not allow what he described as a politically motivated scheme to prevail. He added that the Bucaram family’s honor would be demonstrated.
