Ecuador President Daniel Noboa vows to extradite criminals and touts US-backed crime crackdown

In a State of the Union address to the National Assembly in Quito, President Daniel Noboa highlighted a series of security actions, including the extradition of about a dozen crime bosses to the United States and the seizure of nearly 300 tonnes of illicit drugs. He credited US-backed strategies such as joint patrols, warrant‑less searches and a recent joint military operation against a training camp linked to Colombian traffickers.

Noboa, who was re‑elected to a four‑year term after a snap election in 2023, defended the use of a state of exception that authorises expanded military and police powers. He also cited economic gains, noting poverty fell from 26 % to 21.4 % and extreme poverty from 10.4 % to 8.4 % by 2025. Critics and civil‑society groups warned the hard‑line approach has not reduced crime and endangers civilians, while the International Crisis Group warned that violence levels remain high.

Ecuador continues to grapple with a homicide rate of roughly 50 per 100,000 residents, driven by rival cartels operating from neighboring Colombia and Peru.