ECUADOR: Marco Rubio and the Noboa’s Banana Drug Trafficking Cartel

On September 4, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded his trip to Ecuador with several important announcements, the most notable being made during his meeting with Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa. Rubio’s discussions in Quito on Thursday followed his discussions with leaders from Mexico, which conversations were significantly overshadowed by a US extrajudicial military operation that targeted an alleged drug-trafficking Venezuelan boat in the southern Caribbean last week. Ecuador is grappling with severe drug trafficking issues, with a staggering 70% of the world’s cocaine—mainly sourced from Colombia and Peru—passing through its ports. Furthermore, the Trump administration has been considering Ecuador as a potential site for deporting non-Ecuadorian migrants from the U.S., which adds another layer to the intricate dynamics in the region.

Rubio’s five announcements in Ecuador

1. The Trump administration has chosen to label Los Lobos and Los Choneros as foreign terrorist organisations, to demonstrate US backing for the Noboa’s alleged war on drug trafficking.
2. Rubio discussed the provision of nearly $20 million in financial assistance and drones to support Ecuador’s law enforcement agencies.
3. Ecuador is set to welcome refugees from the United States.
4. The United States and Ecuador are advancing towards a trade agreement aimed at enhancing bilateral trade and addressing tariff issues.
5. If Ecuador decide to invite the US to set up a military base in its country, similar to the one previously located in Manta, Manabí, the US will evaluate the proposal. 

In a significant shift, Ecuador is moving to lift its long-standing constitutional ban on foreign military bases. On June 3, at the urging of President Daniel Noboa, the National Assembly—dominated by the ruling party—gave the green light to amend Article 5 of the Constitution. This change redefines Ecuador’s status as a peace-loving nation by allowing for a foreign military presence in the country. This bold step is likely to reshape Ecuador’s security landscape.

IMAGE: Plenary session 007 of the National Assembly of Ecuador, June 3, 2025 (Source: National Assembly of Ecuador)

Last week, the Trump administration claimed it had targeted a supposed drug-running boat from Venezuela, allegedly crewed by members of the Tren de Aragua gang, although no evidence was presented to support this. U.S. officials assert that the ship’s cargo was meant for the United States and that the strike resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals; however, reports indicate that the targeted vessel was a fishing boat known as a “Pamga boat”, or “Skiff”, headed to Trinidad and Tobago when it was illegally struck by a U.S. military drone. The small fish boat has a range of approximately 100 miles and is equipped with outboard motors that can only travel up to 7 miles per gallon, rendering the claimed journey to Florida virtually impossible.

On August 10, 2025, the Greek police reported having seized over 270 kilograms (595 pounds) of cocaine with an estimated value of over 5.5 million euros ($6.5 million) and arrested three men. The cocaine was hidden inside a container of bananas imported from Ecuador, a CBS report said. Interestingly, the investigative report we are featuring today delves into Ecuador’s president’s family business, especially their company NOBOA Trading, one of the largest exporters of Ecuadorian bananas, marketed under the “Bonita brand”. which, according to the submitted evidence, is involved in drug trafficking using banana containers bound for Europe. The police reports were concealed because the owners of the company from which the drugs were seized were the Noboa family. Between 2020 and 2022, it is reported that nearly 700 kilos of cocaine were seized by the National Police’s Ports and Airports Intelligence Unit (UIPA) at the port of Naportec, Guayaquil, in Ecuador. 

IMAGE: Bonita Europe from NOBOA Trading manages the shipping and land logistics to supply the largest and most diverse markets in the Bonita global system (Source: Bonita/Noboa Trading)

At the end of August, a serious accusation surfaced against President Daniel Noboa and his wife, Lavinia Valbonesi, concerning a mining project in Ecuador. Yaku Pérez, a former presidential candidate and prominent indigenous environmental leader, stepped forward to accuse the couple and the Canadian company Dundee Precious Metals (DPM), which is overseeing the Loma Larga mining project, of engaging in influence peddling and bribery. Pérez claims that DPM secured the critical environmental license needed for the project in the scenic southern Andean province of Azuay back in June through what he described as “fraud.” Perez suggested that this occurred after the company made donations to Valbonesi’s foundation (ANA), which supports women and children in vulnerable situations. Additionally, Pérez pointed out that before the license was granted, there were “several meetings” held between the company and President Noboa in Toronto, Canada. Pérez is a strong opponent to this mining project, claiming that it will result in the disappearance of the Quimsacocha lagoon complex. See EFE report for more details.

IMAGE: Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and his wife, Lavinia Valbonesi (Ecuador). (Source: EFE/ José Jácome)

Additionally, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, along with Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), have openly criticised the Ecuadorian government for its recent assaults on the Constitutional Court. Their remarks follow a national broadcast led by Government Minister Zaida Rovira and National Assembly President Niels Olsen, in which they dismissed the constitutional body’s decision to provisionally suspend articles from three laws enacted under the guise of economic urgency. Former Inter-American Court of Human Rights and former President of the Constitutional Court of Ecuador, judge Hernán Salgado, referred to the Ecuadorian executive branch’s actions against the judges as “an institutional setback typical of the 19th century, which would jeopardise judicial independence,” during an interview with Ecuavisa on August 5, when he also stated:

 “A judge cannot be impeached, much less a constitutional judge. That is undemocratic, that is blatant authoritarianism,” the jurist said.

Marco Rubio appears to be leading the Trump administration’s efforts against drug trafficking in South and Central America. He is particularly focused on putting pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro regarding drug-related issues. The US Treasury Department has labeled Maduro the head of the “Cartel de los Soles,” alleging it to be a terrorist organisation involved in smuggling drugs into the United States and Europe. However, recent data from the “World Drug Report 2025,” released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) 2025 report do not substantiate Rubio’s assertions.

VENEZUELA – US: Rubio says Venezuela is a major source for the drug trade, dismissing nonchalantly the latest United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports, which do not support his claims. Perhaps he should trust his own government source… The US Drug… pic.twitter.com/vx3uylacvu

— Freddie Ponton (@freddie_ponton) September 5, 2025

On September 4, 2025, Reuters reported a significant development: the arrival of a groundbreaking floating facility designed to produce crude oil. This initiative, part of a $1 billion project managed by China Concord Resources Corp (CCRC), is set to take place in Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela’s second-largest oil-producing region. The Lago Cinco and Lagunillas Lago oilfields are expected to yield a mix of light and heavy crude oils. The lighter crude is destined for the Ecuadorian state-owned oil company, PDVSA, while the heavier variant is geared towards shipment to China. This strategic move is likely to ruffle some feathers in the US.

IMAGE: China installs the first floating platform for the extraction of oil in Venezuela’s Maracaibo Lake (Source: Venezuela Analysis)

Currently, all signs point to an intense disinformation campaign spearheaded by the US State Department, which seems aimed at intimidating Venezuela’s leadership and pushing for regime change. This strategy also serves to stain the image of a nation already grappling with the harsh consequences of unjust US sanctions. Such brazen behavior from the US is becoming all too familiar on the global stage. Today, many fears that Marco Rubio, who is pretending to fight a war against drug trafficking, is mainly protecting the interests of his friend and ally, President Noboa, while plotting a military coup in Venezuela.

In summary, the stark contrast in US actions is hard to ignore. The Trump Administration seems quite content to bolster economic and security ties with Ecuador, a nation which, according to the BBC, plays a major role in facilitating 70% of the global cocaine trade, while accusing Venezuela of being a major player. Meanwhile, the broader narrative around drug trafficking and corruption in Ecuador is conveniently sidestepped, while the presidential couple find itself at the centre of corruption scandals….

IMAGE: Police in Turkey seize cocaine hidden in a banana shipment bearing Noboa Trading’s brand in October 2023 (Source: Insightcrime)

A RAYA Magazine Investigation….

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa’s family involved in cocaine trafficking to Europe.

RAYA gained access to Ecuadorian police documents detailing how the banana company owned by President Daniel Noboa’s family has been involved in exporting more than half a ton of cocaine since 2020 to several European countries. The drugs were concealed among banana crates at the ports in Guayaquil. Although the police seized the shipments in flagrante delicto, those involved have not faced justice. One journalist left the country after reporting on the case. 

By: Revista RAYA (RAYA Magazine)-  Investigative Unit

Nearly 700 kilos of cocaine were seized at the port of Naportec, Guayaquil, by the National Police’s Ports and Airports Intelligence Unit (UIPA) between 2020 and 2022. These police reports were hidden since the owners of the company from which the drugs were confiscated were the Noboa family—the family of the President of the Republic and current reelection candidate, Daniel Noboa. The documents, accessed by RAYA, detail how the cocaine was concealed in banana containers belonging to Noboa Trading and how one of the defendants in the case was represented by Ecuador’s current Minister of Health, Edgar José Lama Von Buchwald.

Part of the investigation was revealed last weekend by Ecuadorian journalist Andrés Durán, who, after disclosing several official documents containing reports on the drug seizure, had to leave the country due to death threats and legal harassment from the ruling political party, Movimiento Acción Democrática Nacional (ADN). 

In an interview with Revista RAYA, Durán spoke about his investigation and his departure from Ecuador: “This is the first documented case in Ecuador’s history in which a presidential family is allegedly involved in cocaine trafficking. The Noboa family controls the entire chain of the banana export business, from planting and harvesting to transportation and private ports. There is no doubt that the death threats are closely linked to this investigation.”

Last Sunday, March 23rd, the issue took on greater prominence during the presidential debate ahead of the April 13 runoff election. There, left-wing candidate Luisa González asked candidate/President Daniel Noboa about this company and the three seized cocaine shipments. The president himself did not deny this, saying, with his head bowed, “I am not the owner of the company, but members of my family are involved in it. Noboa Trading has cooperated in each of the cases, and this has been clarified with the Prosecutor’s Office. This clears any Noboa Trading officials of any illicit acts.” However, the judicial investigation is not as clear and conclusive as President Noboa claims, as several prosecutors have been removed from one of the cocaine seizure cases.

VIDEO: Presidential debate in Ecuador, Sunday, March 23, 2025 – Lawyer and former Member of the National Assembly of Ecuador, Luisa González is challenging the President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa and his family business, which is involved in cocaine trafficking (Source Raya and The Grayzone)

Marco Rubio is in Ecuador to tout Pres. Daniel Noboa as Washington’s “top partner” in the war on drugs.

But Noboa and companies owned by his oligarch family are directly linked to the drug trade, as opposition candidate Luisa Gonzalez illustrated in this brutal debate takedown.… pic.twitter.com/QwPdenjpeV

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) September 6, 2025

How did they find the cocaine?

The first cocaine seizure was recorded on August 20, 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, at the port of Naportec, in the city of Guayaquil. Upon opening the container, the National Police’s Ports and Airports Intelligence Unit (UIPA) detected four black jute sacks containing 151 brick-like packages covered with brown packing tape on top of banana boxes. The bags contained a white powder that tested positive for cocaine. According to UIPA documents, the container was destined for Croatia.

IMAGE: José Luis Rivera Baquerizo, a contractor for the banana company Noboa Trading, was responsible for conducting anti-narcotics inspections on the containers.

This discovery, as can be seen in the documents, resulted in the seizure of the drugs and led to a more significant event: the arrest of José Luis Rivera Baquerizo, a contractor for the banana company Noboa Trading (owned by the Ecuadorian president’s family)  in charge of conducting anti-narcotics inspections for the Noboa family banana company. Rivera was the only one arrested but was later released with the help of lawyer Edgar José Lama Von Buchwald, who was an advisor to then-lawmaker Daniel Noboa and is currently Ecuador’s Minister of Health.

IMAGE: Edgar José Lama Von Buchwald, José Luis Rivera’s lawyer, who served as advisor to then-Assemblyman Daniel Noboa and is currently Ecuador’s Minister of Health.

On June 30, 2022, another shipment of cocaine was seized at the same port, Naportec — one of Guayaquil’s most important — where the Noboa family controls the cultivation, packaging, and export of bananas. That day, UIPA and other anti-drug investigation units found 260 brick-like packages bearing the Nike logo inside the refrigeration system of one of the containers, owned by the company Noboa Trading. Inside, they found a white substance that tested positive for 260 kilos of cocaine.

This second seizure resulted in the arrest of José Luis Rivera Baquerizo, the man in charge of conducting anti-narcotics checks for the Noboa banana company. The situation was more serious given that this time it was discovered that his employer was President Daniel Noboa’s cousin, Roberto Ponce Noboa, the legal representative of the Noboa Trading banana company.

IMAGE: Roberto Ponce Noboa, legal representative of the banana company Noboa Trading and cousin of President Daniel Noboa

The other shipment was detected on April 24, 2024, at the same port of Naportec, south of Guayaquil, where the other shipments had also been found. That day, UIPA agents found 76 kilos of cocaine in the false ceiling of a container, which they again linked to José Luis Rivera Baquerizo, who remains free thanks to the political power to the political power that has backed him.

But these are just three cases that the Ecuadorian police have managed to detect before the containers were loaded onto ships and sent primarily to Europe. However, much larger cocaine shipments have also been detected in European ports. One such case was the seizure of 600 kilos of cocaine at the port of Mersin, Turkey. The drugs were found hidden among dozens of boxes bearing the logo of Banana Bonita, a company that forms part of the Noboa’s business holding company. This company is registered in countries as diverse as Morocco, Serbia, and Germany. It is also owned by a company registered in the Bahamas, a tax haven: Fruit Shippers Limited, a company linked to the Noboa family.

57% of the banana containers leaving Guayaquil reportedly arrive in Europe with drugs.

In Ecuador, the Noboa group controls the entire banana cultivation and export supply chain, which raises questions about how much is beyond their supervision.  The Noboa family owns the land where the fruit is grown, the containers, the company responsible for making the packaging for export, and even the cargo ships. Ecuadorian Line, a shipping company,  is a fundamental part of the business group and exports to several European ports.

This monopoly raises a question: How can there be isolated cases of contamination in an industry where the presidential family’s empire controls the traceability of the banana trade?

In response to the rise of violence and drug trafficking in Ecuador, President Noboa has maintained a hardline stance, which he has repeated throughout his government. This includes controversial proposals such as bringing in mercenaries to fight drug cartels or reinstalling the U.S. military base in Manta. However, he has defended himself against these accusations, saying they are fake and that he will respond truthfully.

According to a recent European Commission report, cited by Ecuadorian media, 57% of the banana containers leaving the chaotic ports of Guayaquil arrive in Antwerp loaded with cocaine.

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Source: https://21stcenturywire.com/2025/09/08/ecuador-marco-rubio-and-the-noboas-banana-drug-trafficking-cartel/