A taxi driver took a woman with a suitcase to Lumbisi, in north Quito, and says he smelled marijuana and told police. Officers went to the address on 2 September 2026 and say they saw her apparently flushing a substance down a toilet.
Police say the suitcase held 16 bags: eight of marijuana, about 2 kg, and eight of cocaine, under 8 g. A judge ruled the arrest was in flagrante and ordered pretrial detention, citing flight risk and the quantity. Her defence challenged how police found the home and documented the evidence, and asked for alternative measures. Prosecutors opened a 30-day investigation.
She is not named.
Why it matters: The detention order is not a verdict. Her defence is contesting how the evidence was gathered.
Source: Extra (Quito), 2026-09-04 (translated from Spanish). Forgotten Prisoner's account is based on this reporting. An arrest or charge is not proof of guilt.