{"id":4943,"date":"2026-03-26T21:32:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T21:32:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=4943"},"modified":"2026-03-26T21:32:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T21:32:21","slug":"alleged-hezbollah-member-on-u-s-terror-list-is-arrested-in-ecuador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=4943","title":{"rendered":"Alleged Hezbollah member on U.S. terror list is arrested in Ecuador"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ecuador has arrested a Syrian man identified as a terrorist threat by the United States for belonging to Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, authorities said Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The arrest came as the government of Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, wages a crackdown on drug trafficking gangs<\/span>, with Washington’s backing.<\/p>\n

Ecuadoran Interior Minister John Reimberg said on X the man had been arrested in a joint operation between immigration authorities and the national police intelligence service.<\/p>\n

“Deportation proceedings have been initiated” against the man, who was identified only as M.K. and entered Ecuador without proper documentation, said Reimberg.<\/p>\n

He said the man was known to Ecuadoran authorities, having been arrested in the country in 2005 on charges of leading a drug trafficking network that allegedly moved millions of dollars on behalf of Hezbollah.<\/p>\n

The suspect had been granted provisional release in 2012.<\/p>\n

“There are international terrorist groups that intend to operate in the country, and President Daniel Noboa’s Government will not allow it,” Reimberg said.<\/p>\n

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#ATENCI\u00d3N<\/a> <\/p>\n

Como dije hace unas horas, hay grupos terroristas internacionales que pretenden operar en el pa\u00eds y el Gobierno del presidente Daniel Noboa no lo permitir\u00e1.<\/p>\n

Hace un momento en Quito, en operativo conjunto entre la Subsecretar\u00eda de Migraci\u00f3n, la Polic\u00eda Nacional y con\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/uhRxN6FR01<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 John Reimberg (@JohnReimberg) March 25, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

xLebanon-based Hezbollah is currently fighting with Israel as part of the Middle East war unleashed by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Noboa last year issued a decree blacklisting Hezbollah and Palestinian militant group Hamas as terrorist organizations.<\/p>\n

The president claims the groups advise drug trafficking gangs operating in Ecuador.<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Ecuador launched operations<\/span> against drug traffickers with support from the U.S. The two countries are part of a 17-country cartel-fighting alliance launched by Mr. Trump\u00a0at a summit<\/span>\u00a0earlier this month.<\/p>\n

U.S. and Ecuadoran forces recently conducted\u00a0joint strikes inside Ecuador<\/span>, and Ecuador’s military\u00a0sank a “narco sub”<\/span>\u00a0near its northern border. Earlier this month, the FBI said it would open an office in Ecuador to investigate organized crime, money laundering, and corruption in conjunction with local police.<\/p>\n

Noboa has spent the past two years targeting\u00a0cocaine traffickers<\/span>, but the rates of associated crimes including murders, disappearances and extortion have not fallen.<\/p>\n

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