Ecuador collaborating with Blackwater's founderm for nationwide, contentious anti-crime campaign
New and Unfiltered Assistant:
Yo, here's the lowdown on the latest alliance that Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has cooked up. Himself and Erik Prince, the ex-Blackwater honcho, are teaming up to combat organized crime, narco-terrorism, and illegal fishing.
Now, Noboa, who launched a controversial military operation against criminal groups last year, posted a snap with Prince on social media, sneaking in a patriotic Ecuadorian flag in the backdrop.
According to Noboa's Instagram post, they're going to beef up their fight against organized crime and protect their waters from pirate fishing. He's all about no truce, no retreat, and moving forward.
Details on this shindig are scarce. CNN contacted Noboa's folks for more deets, yet they're keeping mum. They also pinged the Ministry of Defense for info on the partnership and whether the military is on board.
While Noboa's partnership has raised some eyebrows, retired General Luis Altamirano isn't too keen on it. He called it "deplorable" that Noboa is hiring a mercenary army "under the guise of international cooperation." He's wondering if this is just another smokescreen.
Prince, a Trump supporter, founded Blackwater, the private defense contractor that gained infamy during the Iraq War. Their private contractors went on a shooting spree in Baghdad's Nisour Square in 2007, resulting in 17 Iraqi civilian deaths. Four contractors were convicted, but later pardoned by Trump.
Bye-bye Blackwater, hello new venture for Prince! He sold the company in 2010, and now he's on his own, promoting himself as an investor, entrepreneur, and advocate for military affairs reform.
Back to Noboa's crime-fighting venture, he stated that organized crime has been spreading fear, operating under the radar. According to him, their days are numbered since international assistance has commenced in Ecuador.
In early 2024, Noboa kicked off a nationwide campaign to put a halt to gang violence. Despite denouncing foreign interference initially, he now admits that Ecuador needs assistance to tackle its security problems stemming from local criminal groups linked to international drug cartels.
Stats show that Ecuador has the highest homicide rate in Latin America – 38.8 per 100,000 residents, according to InSight Crime. The violence has been at an all-time high this year, with over a thousand homicides.
During a radio interview, Noboa claimed that Ecuador would soon receive international assistance and support, courtesy of "special forces" recruited from abroad. However, he didn't share where this international support would stem from, nor how these foreign forces would operate within the country's borders.
- President Daniel Noboa's strategic alliance with Erik Prince, the former Blackwater honcho, appears to be expanding Ecuador's anti-crime efforts beyond its borders, as they aim to protect the Americas from narco-terrorism and illegal activities like pirate fishing.
- Retired General Luis Altamirano has expressed concern over Noboa's partnership with Prince, questioning whether this international cooperation is a smokescreen for the hiring of a mercenary army.
- Daniel Noboa's crackdown on organized crime in Ecuador has gained global attention, with the world watching closely to see if this Ecuadorian-led initiative, backed by international forces, will successfully combat the country's rising crime rates and restore peace.
