Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez Arrested at Dawn in 'Goleada' Organized Crime Sting

Aquiles Alvarez, the mayor of Guayaquil, was arrested in the early hours of February 10, 2026 during a coordinated operation by the Fiscalía General del Estado (Attorney General's Office) and the National Police.

The operation — dubbed Caso Goleada — targeted 11 individuals with detention orders for the purpose of formal charge proceedings. Among those arrested were Alvarez's brothers Antonio Alvarez, who serves as president of Barcelona Sporting Club (Ecuador's most popular football club), and Xavier Alvarez.

The Charges

The Fiscalía is investigating:

• Organized crime with the purpose of money laundering
• Tax fraud (defraudación tributaria)
• Potential links to structured financial operations designed to obscure the origin of funds

During simultaneous raids on multiple properties, investigators seized cell phones, USB drives, computers, cash, and financial documents believed to be connected to the case.

Connection to the 'Triple A' Case

Alvarez was already under investigation in a separate case known as Triple A, which involves allegations of fuel trafficking. A trial hearing in that case, originally scheduled for January 31, had been postponed.

Prosecutors noted that at the time of his arrest, Alvarez was not wearing the electronic monitoring device required as a condition of the Triple A case — a violation that carries a penalty of one to three years under Ecuador's COIP (Código Orgánico Integral Penal — Ecuador's criminal code).

Political Fallout

Vice Mayor Tatiana Coronel denounced the arrest as political persecution, telling reporters: "Guayaquil will not stay silent."

Alvarez's attorney, Ramiro García, announced plans to have the mayor transferred to Quito for proceedings at the Iñaquito Judicial Unit. The formal charge hearing will determine whether Alvarez remains in preventive detention.

Meanwhile, Miguel Montalvo was named interim president of Barcelona SC following Antonio Alvarez's detention.

What This Means for Expats

This is the most significant political arrest in Ecuador since the 2024 crisis began. For expats — particularly the growing community in Guayaquil and the nearby coast — several implications stand out:

• Governance disruption: Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and economic engine. A mayor under criminal prosecution creates uncertainty around municipal services, infrastructure projects, and public safety coordination
• Institutional signal: The arrest of a sitting mayor suggests the Fiscalía is operating with significant independence — or, as the vice mayor alleges, political coordination with the national government. Either interpretation signals institutional turbulence
• Barcelona SC impact: The club's leadership crisis may seem like a sports story, but Barcelona is deeply woven into Guayaquil's economy and identity. Disruption at the club level has ripple effects on local business and civic life
• No direct impact on daily life for most expats, but those with business or property dealings involving the municipality of Guayaquil should monitor whether administrative services face delays

Sources: El Universo, Primicias, Expreso, Teleamazonas