Ecuador News

Despite threats of sanctions against Ecuador for its raid on the Mexican embassy, most international law experts believe the conversation will soon turn to reconciliation. “Situations like this one always begin with angry rhetoric but eventually calm down and talks begin to repair the damage,” says Carlos Estarellas, former government minister and law professor. “Today,...

By Regina Garcia and Gabriela Molina While world leaders have expressed shock and bewilderment over Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s decision to raid Mexico’s embassy last Friday, the extraordinarily unusual move — and Noboa’s relative silence about it — is unlikely to hurt him with his constituents. In fact, it’s exactly the sort of no-holds-barred crimefighting...

By Michele Bertelli The alarm rang at 7am, summoning everyone in the main square. Protesters boarded three trucks, normally used to transport livestock. The convoy carried them close to the nearby town of Palo Quemado, home to the mining project of La Plata in northwestern Ecuador, 130km (81 miles) from the capital Quito. Since last July,...

As the 90-day national emergency ended on Sunday, President Daniel Noboa issued an executive decree authorizing the continued use of the armed forces to support police in law enforcement operations. Military troops will also remain on duty in prisons, according to the decree. In a statement, the presidential office justified use of troops due to...

Despite international condemnation, Ecuador’s government is defending its decision to raid the Mexican embassy and arrest former vice president Jorge Glas. Glas had taken refuge in the embassy in December after a court ordered his return to prison. Mexico granted him political asylum on Friday. “Under international law, it is illegal to grant political asylum...

By Megan Janetsky Diplomatic relations between Mexico and Ecuador dramatically imploded after Ecuadorian police burst into Mexico’s embassy in Quito and arrested Jorge Glas, Ecuador’s former vice president. Glas, arrested late Friday, had been convicted on charges of bribery and corruption and remains under investigation for other potential crimes. Following the arrest, leaders from across...

Criminal networks in the European Union are penetrating legal businesses across the 27-nation bloc and rely heavily on corruption to develop their activities. That’s the bleak picture emerging from a report published Friday by the EU crime agency. Europol has identified 821 particularly threatening criminal networks with more than 25,000 members in the bloc. According to the...

Ecuador National Police took former vice president Jorge Glas into custody Friday night at the Mexican embassy in Quito. Following the 10 p.m. raid, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that Mexico was suspending diplomatic relations with Ecuador. Glas had taken refuge in the embassy in December after he was ordered to return to...