Former Watford defender Juan Carlos Paredes has been linked to alleged drug trafficking according to reports by Ecuadorian website Aficion Central.

The 35-year-old is now back in his homeland, playing for Cumbaya, and has been named by a member of the country’s Anti-Corruption Parliamentary Front as being involved in allegations against Adis Solis, a mayoral candidate in northern town of San Lorenzo, which is in the province of Esmeraldas.

Last week more than 20 individuals were named in a complaint filed to the Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office by the Anti-Corruption Parliamentary Front in connection with drug trafficking.

The majority of those named are candidates in the 2023 elections, but Paredes is one of a number of new names now added to that list.

Assemblyman Fernando Villavicencio told media in Ecuador: "Mrs Solis has several investigations in the State Attorney General's Office, which are not advancing, that she is accused of having altered information in the Esmeraldas Civil Registry to benefit people linked to illegal activities.

"Her brother-in-law was arrested with several kilos of cocaine and was criminally prosecuted," he added, later confirming Paredes as Solis's brother-in-law.

Villavicencio went on to say that Paredes drives a rare model of car “just like the one driven by Cristiano Ronaldo” and the origins of the fortunes of Paredes and others living in similar neighbourhoods should be investigated.

 

Paredes was at Vicarage Road from 2014 to 2017, making 61 appearances including 17 in the Premier League.

He spent the latter part of the 2016/17 season loan at Olympiakos before returning to Ecuador in the summer of 2017 to join Emelec.

Paredes has been capped 76 times by Ecuador and played in all three of their group games at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.