US offers up to $5M for leads on Ecuadorian presidential candidate's murder

By Nuri Aydin

The US Department of State announced a $5 million reward for information on those behind the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio, an Ecuadorian presidential candidate gunned down in August.

"Today, I am announcing a reward offer under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of co-conspirators and masterminds behind the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio," said a statement signed late Thursday by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

"I am also announcing a second reward offer up to $1 million for information leading to the identification or location of any individual holding a key leadership position in the Transnational Organized Crime group responsible for Mr. Villavicencio's homicide," Blinken added.

The statement emphasized that the US would continue supporting Ecuadorians and work to bring those who try to undermine democratic processes to justice.

- Villavicencio killed on Aug. 9

Villavicencio, known for his calls to stamp out corruption, was killed by an attacker who shot him three times in the head as he got into his car in the capital Kito on Aug. 9.

Ecuador's chief public prosecutor had said the suspect who carried out the attack was shot, seriously injured, and died in a clashes with security forces.

Villavicencio said he received death threats from many people, including the leaders of Mexico's "Sinaloa Cartel," one of the international organized crime groups operating in Ecuador.