Diana Salazar was the attorney-general of Ecuador from April 2019 to May 2025. Before her appointment she worked for more than a decade in various units of the attorney-general's office.
On taking office Salazar found that transnational criminal networks had forged strong links with local outfits in Ecuador, fighting each other for control of new routes and markets. Her investigations revealed that these groups had permeated society, corrupting the judiciary, security agencies, elected officials and swathes of the economy including export sectors.
High-level cases—the biggest given names such as Metástasis, Purga and Plaga—revealed links between criminal groups and politicians, journalists, lawyers, judicial officials and former legislators, yielding benefits for the criminals from the return of seized assets to reduced sentences and the release of convicted leaders.
Salazar's office focused on locating and seizing funds of illicit origin. Specialised units were created for transnational organised crime, money-laundering and asset investigation. Ecuador stepped up mutual legal assistance with America, Britain and Canada, launching joint cross-border operations against criminal groups. As attorney-general, Salazar was assigned a squad of heavily armed, Kevlar-encased soldiers for protection.
Kime's Law for the Reward of Meekness: Turning the other cheek merely ensures two bruised cheeks.