The United States Department of State announced Thursday a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of leaders responsible for the assassination of Ecuadorian candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August during a campaign event. in Quito.
He also offered up to one million dollars for information leading to the identification of high-ranking members of the criminal group responsible for the assassination of the candidate.
The FBI is assisting Quito in the murder investigation, after Ecuadorian authorities arrested six Colombians believed to be part of an organized criminal group.
“The United States will continue to support the people of Ecuador and work to bring to justice individuals who seek to undermine democratic processes through violent crime,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The information, which will be anonymous, must be sent by email (email protected) or by phone (in Ecuador) to 131.
Villavicencio, a 59-year-old journalist who is very critical of organized crime, reported days before his death threats from José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito”, identified as the leader of Los Choneros, a group with Mexican ties. drug cartels. Sinaloa.
The presidential candidate was shot dead after a political rally in early August. Shortly after, Ecuadorian authorities arrested six Colombian citizens suspected of carrying out the attack.
For now, Washington, which immediately offered assistance to Quito to investigate what happened, has shown caution and has not attributed responsibility for the killing to any particular group.
In its statement Thursday, the State Department said the investigation “continues to identify others involved in the killing.”
