Ecuador plans new offensive against organised crime with US backing
Interior Minister John Reimberg announced a new operation against criminal structures with allied forces. The curfew in four provinces remains in effect until 30 September.
New anti-crime operation in Ecuador with support from allied forces
The Ecuadorian Government is preparing a new offensive against organised crime, according to eltelegrafo.com.ec. Interior Minister John Reimberg confirmed that authorities are working alongside allied forces to carry out additional interventions, whilst the curfew remains in effect in the provinces of Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos and El Oro until 30 September.
Reimberg described the strategy as a search and arrest operation targeting persons linked to criminal activities. "Everyone who has harmed the country, we are searching for them so they pay," said the official when referring to the upcoming operations. So far, no details have been released regarding specific targets, the provinces involved or the structures that will be targeted.
The announcement comes days after an action with international participation. On 24 September, Reimberg reported that the National Police and troops from US Southern Command executed simultaneous operations in three provinces. During that intervention, raids were conducted, including in Samborondón neighbourhoods, directed against what the minister called "an important organised crime group".
The curfew has been in effect since 17 September from 00:00 to 05:00 hours. The Government frames it within what is called the Security Bloc, aimed at weakening the operational capacity of criminal organisations. The restriction will remain in force until 23:59 on 30 September.
On the first day of the measure, authorities reported at least 79 arrests across the four provinces. In El Oro, Operation Shadow resulted in 14 detentions linked, according to authorities, with a faction known as Lobos Box. In Guayaquil and Durán, 24 interventions were executed with seizures of weapons, drugs and cash.
In an interview on 20 September, Reimberg stated that the objective of the curfew is to "destroy and neutralise" criminal groups. The minister mentioned specific actions against organisations such as Los Lobos, Los Tiguerones and Los Choneros as part of the ongoing security strategy.
Source: Google News EC — Crime