All posts tagged: Ecuador

Ecuador’s Noboa pledges to extradite criminals in State of the Union speech | Crime News

Ecuador’s Noboa pledges to extradite criminals in State of the Union speech | Crime News

Published by Sam Flores

The right-wing president highlighted anti-crime operations and economic progress, while critics warned of abuses. Published On 24 May 202624 May 2026 Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has used his State of the Union speech to tout his United States-backed crime-fighting strategies as well as improvements to the economy. Addressing the National Assembly in the capital Quito on Sunday, Noboa cited the extradition of a dozen crime bosses to the US and the seizure of almost 300 tonnes of drugs as examples of what he described as his decisive and effective approach. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “We will seek them out, find them and extradite them,” Noboa said of wanted criminals. He also asserted that the South American country cannot develop “if families live in fear”. Organised crime is the leading concern among Ecuadorians this decade, after a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, Ecuador has struggled to contain drug violence as rival cartels partner with local gangs to battle for control of routes and coastal ports used to smuggle …

Ecuador hikes tariffs to 100-percent in feud with neighbour Colombia | Government News

Ecuador hikes tariffs to 100-percent in feud with neighbour Colombia | Government News

Published by Sam Flores

The government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has surged its tariffs on the neighbouring country of Colombia to 100 percent, effective May 1. On Thursday, Ecuador’s Ministry of Production issued a statement blasting Colombia for failing to adequately address drug-trafficking and border security. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list It was the latest salvo in an ongoing cross-border dispute between the right-wing Noboa and his left-wing counterpart in Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who have been feuding for months. “After noting the lack of implementation of concrete and effective measures regarding border security on the part of Colombia, Ecuador is obliged to take sovereign actions,” the Ministry of Production wrote in its statement. It justified the tariff hike as a necessary incentive to “confront the presence of drug trafficking on the border”. “For Ecuador, security, as well as the fight against corruption and drug trafficking, are a non-negotiable priority,” the ministry said. “This measure reaffirms the country’s commitment to protecting its citizens and safeguarding the integrity of its territory.” Already, Noboa had slapped Colombia with …

Ecuador recalls its ambassador from Colombia over Jorge Glas comments | Government News

Ecuador recalls its ambassador from Colombia over Jorge Glas comments | Government News

Published by Sam Flores

Ecuador has recalled its ambassador from Colombia over remarks related to a high-profile criminal case that has stirred tensions across Latin America. The case in question is that of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, a left-wing figure currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for corruption. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list This week marks the two-year anniversary of a controversial police raid that saw Ecuadorian authorities storm the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest Glas, who had sought asylum in the diplomatic facility. But the right-wing government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, which authorised the raid, has denounced criticisms of the Glas case as a violation of his country’s sovereignty. Wednesday’s decision to recall Ambassador Arturo Felix Wong from Bogota is the latest sign of cross-border strife with Ecuador’s neighbour, Colombia, and its left-wing President Gustavo Petro. In a local radio interview on Wednesday, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld confirmed that her country’s ambassador to Colombia had been recalled. The criticisms of the Glas case, she added, were uncalled for. “It’s clearly a …

Ex-minister Gamboa targeted in Costa Rica’s first extradition to the US | Crime News

Ex-minister Gamboa targeted in Costa Rica’s first extradition to the US | Crime News

Published by Sam Flores

For the first time in recent history, Costa Rica has extradited some of its citizens to the United States to face criminal drug-trafficking and conspiracy charges. The individuals included in Friday’s extradition include a top government official, Celso Gamboa, 49, who previously served as a Supreme Court justice from 2016 to 2018 and a deputy attorney general from 2015 to 2016. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list The administration of Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves Robles hailed the extraditions as a major step in ensuring criminal justice. “Costa Rica is sending a strong message: no one can use our nationality to evade justice,” Attorney General Carlo Diaz said in a video message. Diaz acknowledged that “high-profile individuals” were included in the inaugural extradition. “This is a historic day,” he added. Previously, the Constitution of Costa Rica banned the extradition of its citizens for prosecution abroad. But that changed in 2025 with a constitutional amendment championed by the Chaves government. Costa Rica’s legislature passed the amendment with 44 votes in support, out of a …

“A giant mess”: Trump’s war in Ecuador won’t slow the flow of drugs into the US

“A giant mess”: Trump’s war in Ecuador won’t slow the flow of drugs into the US

Published by Sam Flores

President Donald Trump is escalating his administration’s de facto war on Latin American drug cartels. New anti-drug trafficking operations are underway in Ecuador and critics worry that the administration’s strategy and tactics may worsen a decades-old conflict. At the first Shield of the Americas summit earlier this month, Trump urged leaders from select South American and Caribbean countries to take action against what he called an “unacceptable threat” posed by cartels and international gangs. “The only way to defeat these enemies is by unleashing the power of our militaries,” Trump said. “We have to use our military. You have to use your military.” At the summit, Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller similarly advocated for using “hard power” against cartels. “Cartels that operate in this hemisphere are the ISIS and al-Qaida of this hemisphere,” Miller said. A U.S.-Ecuadorian operation against a “narco-terrorist supply complex” was conducted the day prior, which was called “successful” by the Pentagon. “At the request of Ecuador, the Department of War executed targeted action to advance our shared objective of dismantling narco-terrorist …

Giant tortoises make a comeback on Galapagos island

Giant tortoises make a comeback on Galapagos island

Published by Sam Flores

Nearly 150 years after the last giant tortoises were removed from Floreana Island in Ecuador’s Galápagos archipelago, the species made a comeback Friday, when dozens of juvenile hybrids were released to begin restoring the island’s depleted ecosystem. The 158 newcomers, aged 8 to 13, have begun exploring the habitat they are destined to reshape over the coming years. Their release was perfectly timed with the arrival of the season’s first winter rains. “They are large enough to be released and can defend themselves against introduced animals such as rats and cats,” said Fredy Villalba, director of the Galapagos National Park breeding centre on Santa Cruz Island, noting that the best specimens with the strongest lineage were selected specifically for Floreana. These released juvenile specimens, out of a total of 700 planned for Floreana, will be introduced gradually. According to Christian Sevilla, director of ecosystems of the Galapagos National Park, they carry between 40% and 80% of the genetic makeup of the Chelonoidis niger – a species that has been extinct for 150 years. Read moreTiny …

Ecuador files formal complaint after ICE agent attempts “incursion” at Minneapolis embassy

Ecuador files formal complaint after ICE agent attempts “incursion” at Minneapolis embassy

Published by Sam Flores

Ecuador‘s Foreign Ministry has filed a formal complaint after an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tried to enter its consulate in Minneapolis on Tuesday. In a widely shared video, the officer can be seen trying to enter the consulate, telling a staffer to “relax,” even as he is informed he is not “allowed to enter.” 🇺🇸🇪🇨 ICE AGENTS TRIED TO ENTER ECUADORIAN CONSULATE, GOT TURNED AWAY AT THE DOOR Staffer ran to block them: “This is the Ecuadorian consulate. You’re not allowed to enter.” One agent threatened to “grab” him before backing off. Ecuador filed a formal protest.… https://t.co/VGB2Ixk4rz pic.twitter.com/kOv7RvuDOj — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 28, 2026 “If you touch me, I will grab you,” the officer responded when confronted. The staffer explained that the consulate is “foreign government property.” The officer quickly acquiesces and tells the staffer to “close the door.” The Foreign Ministry called the actions of the ICE officer an “attempted incursion…by ICE agents” and demanded they must “not be repeated.” Start your day with essential news from Salon.Sign up …