On Thursday, Ecuadorian Justice Courte (CNJ) granted the extradition to the United States of Daniel Salcedo and former police officer Ronald Herrera. The decision was issued by the court’s acting president, Marco Rodríguez Ruiz, in two separate rulings.
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Both Ecuadorian citizens had previously agreed to be handed over to U.S. authorities on September 9, following hearings at the National Court where Salcedo initially refused but later changed his mind after reviewing the case file with his defense team.
Salcedo is sought by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on five criminal charges: drug trafficking; possession of weapons in furtherance of drug trafficking; conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and use weapons; conspiracy to commit money laundering; and money laundering. Herrera—identified in court documents as R.P.H.R. and known as a protected witness in the Villavicencio case—faces similar charges regarding conspiracy to import narcotics and weapons possession.
The CNJ ruled that while the two citizens remain in the United States, the statutes of limitations for pending sentences and legal actions in Ecuador will be suspended; this measure aims to prevent these proceedings from becoming void due to the passage of time.
The resolution cites Article 72.1 of the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP) and upholds the principles of non-impunity and justice, in accordance with Article 169 of the Constitution.
La Corte Nacional de Justicia concedió la extradición de Daniel Salcedo y Ronald Herrera, quienes son requeridos por la Justicia de Estados Unidos.
La decisión fue adoptada por el presidente encargado de la Corte Nacional de Justicia, Marco Rodríguez. Con esta resolución, ambos… pic.twitter.com/2H8a9SDMib
— WQ Radio (@wq_radio) October 1, 2026
The text reads, “The National Court of Justice granted the extradition of Daniel Salcedo and Ronald Herrera, who are sought by United States authorities. The decision was issued by the Acting President of the National Court of Justice, Marco Rodríguez. Under this ruling, both individuals must be handed over to U.S. authorities in accordance with the applicable extradition process.”
The Villavicencio Case
Salcedo is among those charged by the Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office as an alleged mastermind behind the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio. The killing took place on August 9, 2023, in Quito—just 11 days before the first round of the extraordinary elections. Villavicencio was gunned down by Colombian hitmen as he left a campaign rally.
Herrera, for his part, stated that he had been monitoring and tailing Villavicencio prior to the assassination, acting on an alleged request from José Serrano—recently deported from the U.S.—and in coordination with Salcedo. Also facing charges in these proceedings are former lawmaker Ronny Aleaga, businessman Xavier Jordán—who is set to be deported to Ecuador soon—and three high-ranking members of the criminal group Los Lobos, including Wilmer Chavarría, who was arrested in Spain.
Daniel Salcedo has accumulated multiple convictions in Ecuador for corruption and money laundering. In January 2024, the National Court handed down a 13-year prison sentence against him for money laundering—a case in which his brother, Josué Salcedo, was also convicted. He is currently held at the El Encuentro Maximum Security Prison, where he is serving sentences totaling more than 40 years.
With the ruling issued on October 1, the Ecuadorian justice system has authorized the extradition of Daniel Salcedo and Ronald Herrera. The next step will be their physical handover to U.S. authorities, as the United States requires their presence to answer for cases pending within its jurisdiction.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | Doctors and patients in Ecuador criticize the government for its lack of transparency regarding medicine availability, noting that the figures it releases do not match the reality in public hospitals. pic.twitter.com/naDMtsUgOk
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