Ecuador has arrested a Syrian man identified as a terrorist threat by the United States for his alleged ties to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group. The arrest occurred during a joint operation between Ecuadoran immigration authorities and the national police intelligence service.
Interior Minister John Reimberg announced the arrest, stating that deportation proceedings have been initiated against the suspect, identified only as M.K., who entered Ecuador without proper documentation. Reimberg noted that M.K. had previously been arrested in 2005 for leading a drug trafficking network tied to Hezbollah.
President Daniel Noboa, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, has taken a hard stance against international terrorist groups and drug trafficking. The arrest aligns with recent U.S.-backed anti-drug operations in Ecuador, part of a 17-country cartel-fighting alliance initiated by Trump.
Ecuador and the U.S. have also conducted joint strikes against drug traffickers, and the FBI plans to open an office in Ecuador to combat organized crime, money laundering, and corruption.