The Ecuadorian government has launched a major security operation, mobilizing more than 75,000 military personnel and police officers in an intensified campaign against drug gangs.
The move is part of a broader strategy by President Daniel Noboa to curb the growing influence of drug trafficking networks, which are driving a surge in violent crime.
President Daniel Noboa has declared curfews and expanded emergency measures in the provinces hardest hit by violence, allowing security forces greater authority to conduct operations aimed at dismantling criminal groups.
Officials say the crackdown is targeting powerful gangs involved in narcotics trafficking, which have increasingly turned Ecuador into a key transit hub for illegal drugs.
The latest actions follow a sharp rise in k!llings linked to organized crime, with authorities warning that violence has escalated in recent months as rival groups compete for control of lucrative drug routes.
Security forces have been deployed to restore order, particularly in coastal and high-risk regions where criminal activity has intensified.
President Noboa has reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling crime, emphasizing that the government will continue to take decisive action to protect citizens and stabilize the country.
While the operation is expected to disrupt criminal networks, analysts caution that such measures could also lead to short-term spikes in violence as gangs respond to increased pressure from the military.
