Ecuador’s Noboa pledges to extradite criminals in State of the Union speech
Key takeaways
- The right-wing president highlighted anti-crime operations and economic progress, while critics warned of abuses.
- “We will seek them out, find them and extradite them,” Noboa said of wanted criminals.
- Organised crime is the leading concern among Ecuadorians this decade, after a spike in homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The right-wing president highlighted anti-crime operations and economic progress, while critics warned of abuses.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo President Daniel Noboa delivers his State of the Nation address in Quito, Ecuador, on May 24 [Dolores Ochoa/AP Photo]By The Associated Press Published On 24 May 202624 May 2026Ecuadorian 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.