Security & Strategic Review February 2009 (ISSN 1741-4202)

An investigation into a cocaine shipment seized in 2007 has revealed hitherto unreported contacts between a senior official from the government of President Rafael Correa and the ex number-two leader of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) almost up to the eve of the Colombian raid on his camp inside Ecuador in which he was killed. Its ramifications, which have already affected a regional human rights NGO, could prove damaging to Correa in the run-up to the 26 April general elections .
 
The case began with the seizure of more than four tonnes of cocaine in the coastal border department of Esmeraldas, which investigators linked to a ring of traffickers believed to be led by the brothers Edison, Diego and Jefferson Ostaiza. They also determined that the drugs had been delivered by the Colombian Farc guerrillas. Digging further, they unearthed a link between the Ostaiza brothers and former undersecretary of the interior, Ignacio Chauví­n. The latter has admitted knowing them but denied any involvement in drug trafficking. Investigators are looking into alleged involvement by Chauví­n in oil deals conducted by the Ostaiza brothers, and arrest warrants have been issued against a police officer and a lawyer of the Asociación Latinoamericana para los Derechos Humanos (Aldhu), a well-known human rights NGO.