Since President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. has taken aggressive steps to curb the flow of drugs from the Southern hemisphere. The administration has conducted about 45 strikes against suspected smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, killing more than 150 people.

Love to drop a kilo of explosives on some poor bastard out fishing, because I’ve got a hunch.

Noboa has courted the Trump administration over the past year in the hopes of securing assistance. He came to Washington for Trump’s second inauguration and Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Ecuador in September, and told reporters that the U.S. would “blow up” criminal groups if needed.

So… funny story about President Noboa

In a March 23 debate held for candidates in forthcoming presidential elections, challenger Luisa González and incumbent President Daniel Noboa exchanged accusations of corruption and ties to organized crime.

After Noboa accused González of links to money laundering, González repeatedly questioned her rival about Noboa Trading, a banana exportation company owned by the president’s family.

“They export drugs in banana boxes belonging to Mr. Daniel Noboa’s company to Croatia and Italy,” González said of Noboa Trading.

Noboa responded by tacitly admitting that there have been cases of drug trafficking through the company’s shipments but denying any wrongdoing.

If there’s one thing narco-traffickers hate, its competition.