MONTAÑITA — Monika Silva Koniuszek, an activist, was found dead in her Montañita home on 8 June. She was found on the floor with a noose around her neck. A post-mortem examination in Guayaquil determined her cause of death to be a blow to the head and strangulation.

Koniuszek was 41 years old and the mother of two daughters aged four and nine. In her social media profiles, she stated: "You don't need to be born in Ecuador to love it and defend what is right."

Colleagues said Koniuszek had begun to investigate Noboa Trading, a fruit conglomerate belonging to the family of President Daniel Noboa. They said she was pursuing allegations that several tonnes of cocaine had been seized in Noboa Trading banana containers. Colleagues also said high-ranking Ecuadorian judicial officials were stalling the investigations into the cocaine allegations. Koniuszek told friends she had delivered a dossier of allegations to the U.S. embassy in Quito shortly before she died. Friends said she was facing judicial harassment and death threats.

Ecuador's interior minister, John Reimberg, stated that the initial hypothesis in the case was suicide. Author and activist Beth Pitts said, "Monika was the bravest person I have ever met." Pitts added, "She was often a lone voice, publicly and vociferously denouncing corruption and environmental crimes when everyone else was too afraid to speak out." Pitts also said, "Beyond her activism, she was a dedicated single mother and a wonderful friend." Regarding Koniuszek's character, Pitts said, "Even when she was receiving death threats, she would still take the time to ask how I was doing and offer her support."

The Polish prosecutor's office confirmed it had requested mutual legal assistance from Ecuadorian authorities regarding the investigation and suggested it would want to be closely involved. The Polish embassy in Peru stated it hoped competent authorities would conduct a swift, thorough, independent, and transparent investigation. The embassy said the investigation should clarify the circumstances of the case and ensure accountability. The embassy also emphasised the importance of protecting human rights defenders, journalists, social activists and all individuals engaging in civic life.

The community in Montañita created a shrine to Koniuszek with photos, flowers, and candles. Local street artists painted a mural of her, and neighbours renamed a street after her.