Usury, money laundering and drug trafficking would be behind the murder of Fausto Valdiviezo

Jose Serrano

The murder of Fausto Valdiviezo Moscoso, occurred on last April 11 in the citadel La Atarazana, would be related to an alleged criminal band that engaged in various illegal activities such as usury, human trafficking, money laundering and drug trafficking, said yesterday the Ecuadorian minister of Interior, José Serrano.

He said that the investigation has evidence linking several detainees with drug trafficking and illegal actions regarding possible money laundering, with the involvement of foreigners and large amounts of money.

The Intervention and Rescue Group (GIR) in conjunction with the support of the anti-crime intelligence unit (UIAD) conducted simultaneous raids on four homes located in the residential citadel of Villa Club, km 12 of Samborondon Avenue, specifically in the citadels of Aura and Plaza Real, and in the streets Machala and 10 de Augosto, in the center, and Milagro.

Serrano said that the police found alleged evidence of an “unusual relationship” between the journalist and the suspects, which, he said, will not make public so it does not cause pain to the family.

Apparently, before his assassination, the social communicator was threatened by alleged illegal money lenders that would have lend him money, for undergoing a difficult economic situation after becoming unemployed in 2010.

The detainees, who  had $ 115,000 confiscated, are the Colombian Maricel Montero Cordova, Juan Carlos Ruiz Leon, Luis Alberto Procel Alarcon and Jose Enrique Roca Ladines, the latter was a medical student working at the hospital in Milagro. There are two fugitives: Ingrid Soraya Leon Bermudez and Juan Carlos Marin Londono, who has been included in the most wanted list and offered a $ 50,000 reward for their capture.

The Interior Minister announced that since next week they will launch a campaign against usury, illegal money lenders at national level.