More fishermen from destroyed vessels released by judge who cites lack of evidence against them

A Manta judge released 46 fishermen Friday after their fishing vessels were destroyed by the U.S. Southern Command. Despite a recommendation from prosecutors that the men be held in preventive detention, Judge Esteban Gallardo, released them citing a “lack of significant evidence.”

Fishermen are united with their families after being released by a Manta judge.

The men were crew members of the Don Carlos and Karla Francesca vessels that were intercepted September 15 and 16 by U.S. forces. The men were removed from the ships before they were destroyed by explosives.

Prosecutors charged the 46 with illicit association but were unable to produce specific evidence to back the charge. “Claims made by a foreign entity that the defendants are guilty of crimes cannot be accepted by this court,” Gallardo said, advising the government to return to the court when it had evidence.

Juan Alvia, who represents the fishermen, claimed his clients were innocent and that there would be no further legal action against them. “The government has nothing on them and never will,” he said. “From the earlier maritime events, we know the U.S. military cannot be trusted in these cases and that they cannot prove anything.”

Although Alvia instructed the fishermen not to discuss the case with the media, their families were eager to talk and offered photos taken by the fishermen of the ships and of the U.S. operation that resulted in their destruction. “There were no drugs and there was no extra gasoline for other boats,” said Lourdes Galo, wife of one of the fishermen. “Look at the pictures. Look at the U.S. soldiers brutalizing our men.”

A mother of a fishermen on the Karla Francesca demanded that the Ecuadorian government provide compensation for the fishermen. “They were mistreated and now they have no jobs since their fishing boats are gone,” she said. “How do support their families?”

Since early August, 90 fishermen from vessels destroyed at sea have been brought before Manabí courts. All of them have been released due a lack of evidence of criminal activity.