Ecuador's President Alleges Poisoning Attempt via Chocolate and Jam
President Daniel Noboa claims that an unknown individual attempted to poison him with toxic substances disguised as sweets.
Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa has disclosed a concerning incident involving an alleged attempt on his life through poisoning.
On Thursday, Noboa revealed to CNN that he received chocolate and jam laced with 'highly concentrated' toxic substances at a public event.
He emphasized that the presence of these toxins could not have been accidental, adding that his team possesses evidence corroborating his claims.
According to Noboa, 37 years old, the toxic substances found within the sweets were in such high concentration that they could not have originated from the products themselves or their packaging.
Following this discovery, the president’s security detail filed a complaint with prosecutors.
This incident marks the second time Noboa's administration has accused an attempt on his life amidst ongoing Indigenous anti-government protests and escalating crime rates.
Earlier this month, the government reported that Noboa’s vehicle sustained bullet marks during an altercation with protesters who were angry about rising fuel costs.
Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo described it as an 'assassination attempt,' though no evidence was presented from the scene.
The country's largest Indigenous organization, Conaie, has been blocking roads, including those in the capital’s Pichincha province, since September 22 over concerns about fuel costs.
Critics speculate that Noboa's allegations might aim to depict the protesters as violent and enhance his political standing.
Noboa dismissed these suggestions by stating, "No one throws a Molotov cocktail at themselves...or poisons themselves with chocolate, or throws stones at themselves".
He is preparing for a November 16 referendum which he hopes will enable him to draft a constitution that takes a harder stance on drug-related crimes.
Ecuador has transitioned from being one of Latin America's safest countries to becoming a key cocaine transit hub between Colombia and Peru, the major producers, and consumers worldwide.
This shift has led to soaring murder rates alongside routine occurrences of car bombings, assassinations, and prison massacres.
On Thursday, Noboa revealed to CNN that he received chocolate and jam laced with 'highly concentrated' toxic substances at a public event.
He emphasized that the presence of these toxins could not have been accidental, adding that his team possesses evidence corroborating his claims.
According to Noboa, 37 years old, the toxic substances found within the sweets were in such high concentration that they could not have originated from the products themselves or their packaging.
Following this discovery, the president’s security detail filed a complaint with prosecutors.
This incident marks the second time Noboa's administration has accused an attempt on his life amidst ongoing Indigenous anti-government protests and escalating crime rates.
Earlier this month, the government reported that Noboa’s vehicle sustained bullet marks during an altercation with protesters who were angry about rising fuel costs.
Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo described it as an 'assassination attempt,' though no evidence was presented from the scene.
The country's largest Indigenous organization, Conaie, has been blocking roads, including those in the capital’s Pichincha province, since September 22 over concerns about fuel costs.
Critics speculate that Noboa's allegations might aim to depict the protesters as violent and enhance his political standing.
Noboa dismissed these suggestions by stating, "No one throws a Molotov cocktail at themselves...or poisons themselves with chocolate, or throws stones at themselves".
He is preparing for a November 16 referendum which he hopes will enable him to draft a constitution that takes a harder stance on drug-related crimes.
Ecuador has transitioned from being one of Latin America's safest countries to becoming a key cocaine transit hub between Colombia and Peru, the major producers, and consumers worldwide.
This shift has led to soaring murder rates alongside routine occurrences of car bombings, assassinations, and prison massacres.
