The president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has stated that there are "indications" linking the former presidential candidate and correísta leader Luisa González to organized crime, and has directly blamed the opposition for fueling its electoral campaigns with economic resources from drug trafficking.
In an interview granted to the Ecuadorian broadcaster Radio Sucre, the head of state defended the actions of the Justice against certain political leaders and rejected the accusations of "political persecution" made by the movement Revolución Ciudadana. When specifically questioned about the alleged relationship of Luisa González with illicit networks, Noboa detailed that, "according to what we have seen and the investigation that has been done," there are indications of those links. "There is still a judicial process pending, a trial, and all the information that will come out," he added.
During his speech, Noboa extended his reproaches to former president Rafael Correa, whom he accused of maintaining direct connections with criminal organizations such as "Los Lobos" or "Los Choneros." In addition, he denounced the existence of a "proven money laundering" in the last electoral processes, claiming that "money from drug trafficking and organized crime is used to finance the opposition to this Government" and warning that these structures have infiltrated both public administration and the judicial function.
The president has insisted that his Government does not act as an "ideological oppressor," but rather intends to dismantle the mafia networks in the country "without fear." He reported that both his family and members of his cabinet suffer constant death threats and possible attacks for refusing to negotiate with these organizations. Politically, he joked about his struggle with correísmo by stating that he has become "the worst nightmare" of the former president, currently in exile in Belgium.
Noboa's words come just days after the Ecuadorian Justice ordered preventive detention against González for an alleged crime of money laundering related to the financing of her 2023 electoral campaign.