Serbian drug lord had Cuenca ties; Mamma Mia plays at Carlos Cueva Tamariz Theater; Weekend agenda
Curious –
(De El Mercurio del lunes, 26/2) Jezdimir Srdan compró casas, vehículos y otros bienes en Cuenca (Jezdimir Srdan
bought houses, vehicles and other goods in Cuenca) – Imprisoned Serbian drug lord Jezdimir Srdan was a frequent visitor to Cuenca, owning at least four properties in the city, according to testimony from witnesses in his criminal trial.
On Thursday, a three-judge Criminal Court panel sentenced Srdan to an additional 10 years in prison for money laundering. A Serbian national, Srdan was suspected of operating a large European drug trafficking network before his 2024 capture in Ecuador. He is currently imprisoned at the Encuentro Prison in Santa Elena on previous convictions. Recently, Srdan was at the center of a scandal that resulted in the impeachment and dismissal of Judicial Council President Mario Godoy who was accused of pressuring a judge to acquit Srdan. The Ministry of the Interior calls Srdan “Ecuador’s number one prisoner.”
Mamma Mia will be performed tonight, el viernes, 27/2, at the Teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz on the University of Cuenca campus.
During the pre-trial investigation, it was discovered that Srdan owned at least hour houses in Cuenca. He also purchased cars, motorcycles, heavy machinery and other goods in the city. According to the testimony of protected witnesses, Srdan spent “large amounts of time” in Cuenca, preferring the weather to the tropical heat of Guayaquil and Salinas. He also favored the city as “a refuge from the violence and threats” of the coast and the advantage of mixing with the city’s large expat population, they said.
Agenda –
26/2, 19:00 – Photo exhibit, “Mujeres de Cuenca: fuerza y belleza” by Jane Hiltbrand – Casa Patrimonial de las Posadas.
27/2,11:00 – Inauguración of the Primer Escaparate Creativo 2026, to boost talent and strengthen the cultural economy – Vestíbulo del Edificio Municipal (vestibule of City Hall).
15:30 – Viernes de Cuentos y arte – El Valle municipal library.
17:00 – Concierto with Diego Iván’s Orquesta Star Band – Mercado 27 de Febrero.
28/2, 12:30 – Theatrical routes, Meeting with the Colectivo Artístico Barojo – Pasaje Padre Pedro Toulop/ between Hermano Miguel and Pres. Borrero.
13:30 – Circo (circus), a performance by “La Clowpanía” group – Pasaje Padre Pdero Toulop.
Hoy se estrena en Cuenca el musical Mamma Mia (The musical Mamma Mia to premier today in Cuenca) – Mamma Mia will come to Cuenca for the first time to the Teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz. The performances will be el jueves, 26/2 and el viernes, 27/2x. <meet2go says the show on Friday starts at 19:30.> The musical has a Broadway international license and an all Ecuadorian cast. Tickets prices range from $25 to $55 and are available on meet2go or 3 hours before the show at the theater ticket office.
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Information in this column, including dates, times and locations, is courtesy of the El Mercurio newspaper. Comments between the carrots, or guillemets (< … >), are the personal opinions of the author and not part of the news translation.
