(Quito) Ecuador, at war against drug trafficking and criminal groups, on Tuesday eased the curfew imposed 15 days ago as part of the state of emergency which allowed the number of daily homicides.
In 10 of the country’s 24 provinces, the curfew will notably be reduced by one hour, from 12 a.m. local time (12 a.m. Eastern time) to 5 a.m. (5 a.m. Eastern time), according to a decision of President Daniel Noboa announced Tuesday.
These high-risk areas include the southwest port of Guayaquil, an epicenter of gang violence and a hub for cocaine shipping to the United States and Europe, as well as the capital Quito.
Thanks to the state of emergency, decreed on January 8 for a period of 60 days, with the deployment of more than 22,000 soldiers in the streets, there is “a downward trend in violent deaths, with an average of 10.8 (homicides) per day,” police commander César Zapata said at a joint news conference.
Between 1er and on January 8, this figure averaged 27.6 per day.
Once a haven of peace, Ecuador is now one of the most violent countries in Latin America. Homicides there increased by 800% between 2018 and 2023, going from 6 to 46 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The country has been facing an unprecedented wave of criminal violence since January 7, following the announcement of the escape of a dangerous gang leader, Adolfo Macias, alias “Fito”.
President Noboa declared a state of emergency after riots in prisons, hostage-taking and attacks against law enforcement and in neighborhoods.
Members of the 22 criminal gangs identified in the country are now considered “terrorists” and military targets, while the country has been recognized as being in a state of “internal armed conflict”.
According to Commander Zapata, “3,219 terrorists” were arrested and five were killed. Vehicles, boats, weapons and other explosives were seized in large numbers, as well as 22 tonnes of drugs.
American delivery
While the government called for international aid, in particular from the United States, an imposing Antonov AN-124 cargo plane, registered in Ukraine, and filled with American equipment landed Monday evening in Guayaquil, according to images broadcast by the media.
“American aid is arriving,” confirmed the head of the armed forces, Admiral Jaime Vela, explaining that this was an “acceleration of aid already planned.”
The American embassy announced the delivery of 20,000 bulletproof vests, a donation worth one million dollars of security equipment, and additional support from FBI personnel to the local police.
A delegation of American officials, led by the head of the “Southern command” (which covers South America) met Monday behind closed doors with Mr. Noboa at the presidential headquarters in Quito.
On Tuesday, the same delegation met with Attorney General Diana Salazar as part of “support for and strategies for bilateral cooperation to combat insecurity and organized crime,” according to a statement from the prosecutor’s office.
Mme Salazar is currently leading a vast investigation which led in December to the arrest of around thirty people, including judges and prosecutors but also prison officials and police officers, suspected of complicity with criminal organizations.
As for “Fito”, still on the run, “we are getting closer and closer and it is certain that he feels it,” warned Mr. Vela.