Dahan was apprehended in Santa Elena while he was traveling in a vehicle with another foreigner. They were carrying $100,000 in cash and forged diplomatic documents, accrediting them as alleged agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Upon verifying his identity it was discovered that Interpol's red alert weighed on him. In a subsequent search of his residence, $200,000 and other high-end vehicles were seized.

Ecuadorian Government Minister María Paula Romo revealed on Wednesday that both detainees are "linked to the sale, the offer of rapid tests and medical supplies in connection with the pandemic," referring to investigations initiated by authorities in that country for crimes of of embezzlement, influence peddling and organized crime, related to the sale of medical supplies to hospitals.

For this investigation, the Ecuadorian Prosecutor's Office and Police carried out 37 search operations between Tuesday and Wednesday, which resulted in other arrests, including that of former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram.

Dahan escaped from La Joyita prison in June 2018, where he remained while facing a process for a crime against economic assets.

As a result of his escape from the prison, the then director and deputy director of La Joyita were removed, a judicial investigation was initiated against both, three units of the National Police and one custodian. Two other people were later linked to this investigation, facing charges of falsehood and crimes against the public faith.

Dahan had been extradited from Spain to Panama in March 2018 for a fraud case of more than half a million dollars, which is why he remained detained in La Joyita until his evasion.

A reward of $10,000 was offered for information leading to his capture.