According to Interior Minister Maria Paula Romo the targeted individual had been heading to Japan. The identity of the individual who was arrested has not been officially confirmed. However journalist Vijay Prashad identified them as Ola Bini, a software developer.
He tweeted: “Today Ola was arrested in Quito, Ecuador.
“A Swedish national, Ola speaks no Spanish.
“He is being held at the airport, and has been allowed no lawyers.”
Yesterday Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested after police entered the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, after asylum was withdrawn.
READ MORE: Julian Assange timeline – Why has Assange been arrested?
A Twitter account which appears to belong to Mr Bini suggested a “witch hunt” could be launched by Ecuadorian authorities just hours before his arrest.
It commented: “Maria Paula Romo, Ecuador Minister of the Interior, this morning held a press conference, claiming there are Russian hackers in Ecuador, and also that there is one person part of WikiLeaks living in Ecuador since several years.
“She further said this information soon will be handed over to the prosecutor for potential prosecution.
“Very worrisome news, this seems like a witch hunt to me.”
Yesterday Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested after police entered the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, following the withdrawal of asylum.
READ MORE: Julian Assange found GUILTY of skipping bail
He had been living in the Embassy since 2012, when he took refuge in the building to avoid being extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault allegations.
Mr Assange appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon.
He was found guilty of failing to surrender to police in 2012, and faces up to 12 months in prison when he is sentenced later by Southwark Crown Court.
In 2010 Wikileaks released more than 700,000 confidential US government documents.
Mr Assange could face extradition to America to face charges relating to these leaks.