Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa used his State of the Union address on Sunday to highlight his government's crime-fighting strategies backed by the United States, as well as improvements in some economic indicators.
Addressing the National Assembly in Quito, Noboa cited the extradition of a dozen crime bosses to the U.S. and the seizure of nearly 300 tons of drugs as examples of a decisive approach to combat organized crime, the main concern of Ecuadorians this decade.
"We will seek them out, find them and extradite them," Noboa said of wanted criminals, asserting that the country cannot develop "if families live in fear" due to organized crime.
Ecuador has struggled to contain drug violence since 2021 as rival cartels partner with local gangs and battle for control of routes and coastal ports used to smuggle cocaine. The country is wedged between Colombia and Peru, the world's top cocaine producers.
Last year, Ecuador recorded its highest homicide rate in decades at 50 murders per 100,000 residents, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
In response, Noboa, who was reelected last year to a 4-year term, has used a state of exception to allow the military to implement various crime-fighting strategies, including joint patrols with police and warrantless property searches. Earlier this year, Ecuador's military also carried out a joint operation with U.S. forces against a training camp allegedly used by Colombian drug traffickers, attacking with drones, helicopters and boats.
Noboa has faced criticism from civil society groups, who say his iron-fisted methods have failed to reduce crime while putting civilians in danger.
Glaedys González, an analyst for the Andean region at the International Crisis Group, said Noboa may have been optimistic in his speech regarding security, but "progress on violence is far from being achieved." She noted that "the situation in Ecuador has reached unprecedented levels."
Noboa also promoted economic progress, telling lawmakers that poverty dropped from 26% to 21.4% in 2025, while extreme poverty fell from 10.4% to 8.4%.
Noboa was first elected in 2023 during a snap election triggered when then-President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly and shortened his own term.
