The hearing regarding money laundering from the 'Operation Bavaro' case concluded past midnight on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, after more than nine hours of presentations, rebuttals, counter-rebuttals, and a parade of arguments heard by Judge Marisol Ortiz, who ultimately left two points clear: who sleeps in a cell and who goes home under strict judicial restrictions. Provisional detention for Brands and his partner The strongest blow fell on former deputy and Pandeports director Hector Brands, whom the judge imposed provisional detention on after accepting the arguments of the Second Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime regarding the risk of flight and the magnitude of the financial movements investigated. Along with him, Elvis Enrique Rodríguez was also detained, described as a business partner linked to one of the companies appearing in the alleged money laundering scheme. Both were immediately transferred to custody facilities, at the disposal of the Public Ministry for the six months of investigation authorized by the court. Families that returned home but with a restrictions log The hearing also defined the future legal proceedings of the other detainees, all linked by the Public Ministry as part of the network of suspicious transactions. However, for them, the judge considered it sufficient to impose less severe precautionary measures. They were placed under house arrest, a ban on leaving the country, and periodic notification: Aldair Abdala Brands Cedeño (son), Aimar Abdala Brands Cedeño (son), Hector Alberto Brands Orozco (son), Eliana Janeth Cedeño (Brands' ex-wife), Yasbel Núñez Vásquez (current partner and former beauty queen), Ediluz Anayansi Brands Hernández (the former deputy's sister). The prosecution did not object to the measures applied to the relatives, arguing that their role in the investigation is minor compared to the two main accused. The hearing began at 2:00 p.m. with the prosecution's presentation, which presented financial movements, bank records, and connections between companies that, according to their thesis, would have served to channel and justify funds whose origin could not be proven. Brands' defense attempted to dismantle the allegations and requested measures other than detention, but the judge did not see it as feasible. After long recesses and technical discussions, the clock passed 11:00 p.m. when Judge Ortiz announced the ruling: Brands and his partner were detained, while the rest of the accused returned home under strict judicial control.
