Ecuador Launches Operation Against Drug Traffickers with U.S. Support

On March 15, Ecuador began a two-week operation targeting drug traffickers, bolstered by assistance from the United States. This initiative involves deploying thousands of police and military personnel in regions identified as dangerous, including Guayas, Los Rios, and Santo Domingo de los Tzachilas. Authorities have implemented a curfew along the coast, which lasts from 11 PM to 5 AM until March 30.

“We are at war,” Ecuador’s Interior Minister, John Reinberg, conveyed to residents in various states. He stated that more than 75,000 troops and police officers would partake in the operation. Additionally, on social media, he mentioned that 35,000 police officers are specifically assigned to Guayas, Los Rios, El Oro, and Santo Domingo de los Tzachilas. In a stern message aimed at criminal organizations, he declared, “Dear Mafia, time is running out. Nothing can stop us.”

President Daniel Novoa, who has been allied with former President Donald Trump, has intensified measures against cocaine trafficking over the previous two years. However, the progress in curbing associated crimes like murders and extortions has been limited. Reports indicate that approximately 70% of the cocaine from Colombia and Peru likely passes through Ecuador.

This operation coincides with President Trump’s recent announcement of a 17-nation coalition to combat drug cartels during the American Shield summit in early March. At the summit, he labeled the cartels as a “cancer” and suggested employing military action to eradicate them. “We don’t want it to spread,” he emphasized.

It remains uncertain whether U.S. soldiers will be directly involved in this operation. The FBI has initiated the establishment of an office in Ecuador dedicated to investigating organized crime and related issues. In a collaborative effort, Ecuadorian and American forces recently executed a successful operation against a “narco-submarine” near Ecuador’s northern border.