The facts of the case concern the illegal and arbitrary detention, in June 1992, of Rafael Suárez Rosero on the part of Ecuadorian National Police agents. This occurred in the context of the police operation “Ciclón”, whose objective was to break up one of the biggest international drug trafficking organizations. The victim was detained without a warrant having been emitted by a competent authority and without having committed delicto flagrante. Following several days kept in isolation, he was remanded in custody by a judge.

The IA Court established standards on preventative detention as a precautionary and not punitive measure, further defining isolation as a measure of exceptional nature. The Court also ratified the extent to which habeas corpus should be understood.