Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has revealed that an attempt was made to poison him during a public event, raising serious security concerns in the South American nation. According to reports from The Guardian and The Observer, the president stated that toxic substances were deliberately mixed into chocolates and jam that were presented to him as gifts during an official engagement.
Speaking to local media, President Noboa explained that laboratory tests confirmed the presence of three highly dangerous chemicals in the sweets, substances that could have caused severe poisoning or death if consumed. He added that the nature of the compounds made it clear that the incident was not accidental.
“The evidence collected by my security and health teams shows that there was a deliberate attempt to poison me,” Noboa said. “This was an organized act, and we have identified several leads pointing to those involved.”
The Observer reported that security agencies in Ecuador have launched a full scale investigation, focusing on how the contaminated food items managed to pass through multiple layers of presidential security. The incident reportedly took place during a public gathering attended by government officials and local citizens.
Sources cited by The Guardian noted that President Noboa’s team discovered the contamination during routine health checks carried out before consumption. Samples of the suspected food were immediately sent to a government laboratory, where experts confirmed the presence of hazardous chemicals commonly used in industrial poisoning cases.
Following the revelation, Ecuador’s Interior Ministry has tightened security measures around the president and his close aides. A senior government spokesperson confirmed that all future public interactions involving food or gifts will now undergo extensive screening and chemical testing.
President Noboa, who came to power pledging to tackle organized crime and corruption, has faced multiple threats since assuming office. The Guardian observed that Ecuador has seen a rise in political violence over the past two years, with several public officials and journalists targeted by criminal networks. The attempted poisoning, if confirmed, would mark the most serious threat to a sitting Ecuadorian president in recent decades.
The Observer highlighted that Noboa’s administration has vowed to continue reforms despite these threats, emphasizing his determination to strengthen national security and protect democratic institutions. The president assured citizens that he remains in good health and that his team is working closely with law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“This will not intimidate me,” Noboa stated. “Ecuador will not bow to fear or to those who want to destabilize our democracy.”
