An Ecuadorian anti-corruption court sentenced 8 people to prison and sanctioned 3 companies for their role in a money laundering scheme linked to the Albanian mafia.
The news was announced by the Reuters news agency, citing sources from the prosecutor's office in the Andean country.
The convicts were part of a network that shipped drugs from Ecuador to Europe using registered companies to launder assets worth $43.4 million, according to the prosecutor's office.
All 8 people received sentences of more than 17 years in prison, while 4 of those found guilty were also convicted of organized crime charges related to the Albanian mafia. In Spain, several other suspects in connection with the case will face separate trials.
Ecuadorian prosecutors found that an Albanian citizen, identified as Dritan Gjika, led the criminal network, along with an Argentine businessman and an Ecuadorian. The group was convicted of creating several companies to hide money and illegal assets related to drug trafficking.
Gjika is wanted by Ecuadorian authorities and is accused of fictitious money laundering schemes, drug trafficking, leading a criminal organization, and other crimes.
The prosecution requested a sentence of 10 to 13 years for the 8 defendants and for the three companies to be blocked and their assets to be confiscated.