Ecuador's Metastasis of corruption

The global decline in justice and the rule of law is enabling impunity for corruption around the world. Photo- Gabriel Manjarres-Pexels

This week, Ecuador’s National Court sentenced 20 people involved in the Metastasis scandal, a corruption network that infiltrated the country’s judicial, police and prison systems. The network was linked to drug trafficker Leandro Norero, who allegedly used bribes to keep his operations running even while in prison. Among those convicted are judges, provincial prosecutors, high-ranking police officers and prison officials.  

Attorney General Diana Salazar described the operation as “the largest in [Ecuador’s] history against corruption and drug trafficking.” Prosecutors alleged that bribes were paid to manipulate judicial processes and favor criminals, particularly in money laundering cases linked to organised crime. 

This scandal reflects a troubling global trend: weakening justice systems are enabling corruption to thrive. As highlighted in our 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), corrupt acts like bribery and abuse of power are infiltrating many courts and justice institutions worldwide. Furthermore, where corruption becomes the norm, the rich and powerful – criminals included – can capture entire justice systems for their benefit and at the expense of the common good. 

Since 2020, Ecuador’s CPI score has been on a downward trend, and last year fell to a score of 34 out of 100. Earlier this year, we warned that the country was facing a crisis of violence, eroding trust in public institutions and raising concerns about the potential infiltration of organised crime within the judiciary. Questionable rulings in favour of criminals pointed to serious issues of transparency, accountability and integrity. 

Our Ecuadorian chapter, Fundación Ciudadanía y Desarrollo, has also been sounding the alarm about the growing threat that organised crime poses to anti-corruption fighters, human rights defenders and journalists, further shrinking the country’s civic space. In response to these increasing dangers, they have created the Security, Crime and Defense Observatory, an initiative to share knowledge and foster citizen participation in tackling Ecuador’s security challenges. 

While the government has taken initial steps, such as creating a joint financial crime investigation unit, these fall far short of the systemic reforms needed. As our chapter has said, structural change is key to rebuilding trust, ensuring accountability and protecting institutions from organised crime. 

The Metastasis case is a wake-up call. Ecuador must act now to address systemic corruption. Bold, meaningful reform is needed to reclaim institutions and build a justice system that serves the common good - not criminals or the powerful few. – Transparency International