Ecuador journalist Monika Silva murdered after exposing Noboa family’s drug ties

Monika Silva, a Polish‑origin anti‑corruption journalist living in Ecuador, was found dead on 8 June 2026 in Montañita. She had been investigating and reporting alleged cocaine shipments in containers of Noboa Trading, a company owned by the family of President Daniel Noboa.

Silva delivered documents on the case to the U.S. embassy in Quito weeks before her death. Ecuadorian authorities first declared the death a suicide, but a forensic autopsy revealed a violent killing, showing a severe head wound and signs of strangulation. The investigation is now treating the case as murder, with prosecutors considering a femicide charge.

The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights defenders and other international bodies, including the EU delegation and the Polish embassy, have urged the Ecuadorian government to ensure immediate protection for activists and to conduct a thorough, independent investigation. They also criticized the state's initial handling of the case and warned of broader concerns about political interference and militarization in Ecuador.