Ecuador’s President alleges third assassination attempt in two months involving poisoned chocolates and jam

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has claimed that an unknown assailant attempted to poison him by gifting chocolates and jam laced with “three highly concentrated” toxic substances, but so far has offered no public proof. “The presence of these three chemical compounds in high concentrations cannot be accidental,” Noboa told CNN. The presidency’s security unit has filed a complaint with prosecutors, according to official accounts.

This allegation is the third reported attempt on Noboa’s life in two months, underscoring the erosion of governmental control amid widespread protests, spiralling gang violence, and a deepening economic crisis. Earlier this month, the president’s motorcade was attacked by rock-throwing protesters after fuel-subsidy cuts, prompting the defence minister to call the incident an “assassination attempt” despite no publicly released bullet-casing evidence.

Ecuador, once one of Latin America’s safest countries, has transformed into a major transit hub for cocaine flowing from Colombia and Peru. Amid this surge, murder rates, car bombings and prison massacres have become increasingly routine.

The backdrop for Noboa’s allegations is a nationwide strike led by the Indigenous federation CONAIE protesting the removal of diesel subsidies. Demonstrators blocked roads for weeks before the strike ended recently.