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Ecuador's President Touts US-Backed Crime-Fighting Efforts and Vows to Keep Hunting Down Criminals
He cited the extradition of 12 crime bosses and the seizure of almost 300 tons of drugs as proof of progress against organized crime.
- Addressing the National Assembly in Quito on Sunday, President Daniel Noboa touted crime-fighting achievements, citing the extradition of a dozen crime bosses and the seizure of almost 300 tons of drugs.
- Ecuador has faced rising violence since 2021 as rival cartels battle for control of ports and smuggling routes, with the country recording 50 murders per 100,000 residents last year—its highest homicide rate in decades.
- To combat crime, Noboa implemented a state of exception enabling military patrols and property searches without warrants, while reporting that poverty dropped from 26% to 21.4% in 2025.
- Glaedys Gonzalez, an analyst for the Andean region at the International Crisis Group, counters that "progress on violence is far from being achieved," citing civil society concerns about civilian safety.
- Ecuador remains wedged between Colombia and Peru, the world's top cocaine-producing nations, complicating Noboa's security efforts despite recent joint military operations with U.S. forces against drug trafficking camps.
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25 Articles
25 Articles
Washington TimesReposted by 
The New York Ledger
The New York LedgerEcuador’s president touts U.S.-backed crime-fighting efforts and vows to keep hunting down criminals
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Sunday used his State of the Union address to tout his government's U.S.-backed crime-fighting strategies as well as improvements of some economic indicators.
·United States
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Associated Press News+15 Reposted by 15 other sources
Ecuador's president touts US-backed crime-fighting efforts and vows to keep hunting down criminals
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa uses his State of the Union address to highlight his government's crime-fighting strategies backed by the United States.
·United States
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Noboa has been criticized by civil society groups, who claim that their authoritarian methods have failed to reduce crime while putting civilians at risk.
·Mexico
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President Daniel Noboa will present his Report to the Nation at the National Assembly in Quito on Sunday, May 24, 2026, during a ceremony marked by the commemoration of the Battle of Pichincha.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources25
Leaning Left9Leaning Right4Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 28%
R 22%
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