An Ecuadorian footballer, who is currently the top scorer in the league as a regular for Barcelona SC, has been arrested on charges of being involved in a drug gang.



According to foreign media reports such as British media The Sun and Marca on the 23rd local time, Ecuadorian soccer player Gabriel Cortez (26) was arrested at his home on the 22nd.

He is charged with being part of an organization caught up in murder and drug trafficking.



Enlarging an image


Cortez is currently leading the team in the league as well as individual goalscorer, scoring 7 of 9 Ecuadorian Serie A league matches.

He also played the game the day before he was caught.



Ecuadorian police have recently arrested 18 people in a crime syndicated operation.

During the simultaneous seizure and search in 29 places, evidence items such as automobiles, cell phones, and drugs that were presumed to have been used in a crime were found.



Enlarging an image


According to the local police, the group under the name of 'Los Tiguerones' is a group that commits illegal activities such as drug, arms trafficking, murder, and extortion.

In addition, three out of 18 are active-duty police officers, and Ecuadorian soccer star Cortez was also investigated as a member of the organization.



Ecuador's Interior Minister Parricio Carillo said, "Cortez was not a simple member of an organization, but was in a position to direct and receive reports when commissioned to kill a contract."



When the news of Cortez's arrest was reported through the media, his team, Barcelona SC, expressed their position through the official SNS.



Enlarging an image


Although the team did not mention the names of the players precisely, they denied responsibility or collusion, stating, "The team is not responsible for the problems caused by the player's privacy. Barcelona SC will closely monitor the entire process and take appropriate action."



But Cortez's lawyer said, "It's unfair. He's only been called and listened to twice," insisting that he could not prove the crime.



Gabriel Cortez, a famous star player in Ecuador that no one knows about, is usually called 'Loco' Cortez and is gaining great popularity.



Enlarging an image


However, soccer fans were shocked when they even saw a mugshot of Cortez (an identifiable suspect photographed by the police) released by the local media.



This is a 'news pick'.



(Photo = Gabriel Cortez Instagram, YouTube 'Teleamazonas Ecuador', Barcelona SC Twitter, Getty Images)