Noboa accuses Petro of drug trafficking links following González's detention
Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa linked former Colombian president Gustavo Petro to a drug trafficking and money laundering structure. The statement comes following the detention of former presidential candidate Luisa González.
Noboa points to Petro amid money laundering investigation
Ecuador's president, Daniel Noboa, linked Colombia's former president, Gustavo Petro, to an alleged drug trafficking and money laundering network. The statements, published exclusively on Thursday 22 October by SEMANA magazine and picked up by ntn24.com, coincide with the detention of Ecuadorian former presidential candidate Luisa González, a member of the Ciudadana Revolution movement, aligned with former president Rafael Correa.
"We are dismantling a major drug trafficking and money laundering structure that includes former president Petro, which is why he goes mad and makes comments like that," Noboa told SEMANA.
The accusation emerged after Petro reacted on social media platform X to González's capture. The Colombian president questioned the Noboa government and maintained that Ecuador is experiencing "a true dictatorship", also casting doubt on the real purpose of actions against drug trafficking.
Investigation into irregular campaign financing
Ecuador's Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating alleged irregularities in the financing of the 2023 presidential campaign, in which González ran directly against Noboa. Authorities are examining inconsistencies in contributions received and the lawful origin of the funds, and carried out detention orders against three people for alleged participation in money laundering.
In January of this year, authorities had already raided González's home. On that occasion, the former candidate denied having received money from Venezuela.
Diplomatic tension between Ecuador and Colombia
González's detention provoked immediate reactions from Correa and Petro, who questioned the actions of the Ecuadorian government. Noboa responded with a direct accusation against the former Colombian president in his conversation with SEMANA.
The statements add to a series of previous confrontations between both leaders regarding border security, drug trafficking and cooperation against criminal organisations. In previous interviews with the same publication, Noboa had already questioned the Colombian government's security policy and pointed to alleged indirect links between Petro and individuals connected to criminal structures in Ecuador.
The controversy has had concrete consequences: recalls of diplomatic representatives for consultations and tariff measures between the two countries.
Source: Google News EC — Crime