Bananas, cocaine and power: A scandal shadows Ecuador’s president

An OCCRP investigation links cocaine shipments to banana export containers tied to President Daniel Noboa's family business, raising concerns about drug traffickers' reach in Ecuador's export economy. The findings complicate Noboa's tough-on-crime stance as his government seeks more international support to combat drug violence. Intercepted messages show Balkan gangs boasting of exclusive access to specific banana containers, alarming security officials and increasing political pressure on Noboa.