Ecuador to crack down on criminal economy with US support

Ecuador Announces Military Offensive Against Criminal Networks

The government of Ecuador has announced plans to launch a military operation against criminal networks in the country, starting this weekend. The operation is expected to be supported by the United States.

According to Interior Minister John Reimberg, the new approach aims to target the economic backbone of organized crime, rather than focusing on individual leaders. “Last year, we focused on catching the heads of these structures,” Reimberg said in an interview with Ecuador’s Radio Centro. “This year, we will attack the criminal economy.”

The operation is expected to focus on illegal mining and drug trafficking operations. The government has announced a curfew for four provinces: El Oro and Guayas along the Pacific coast, as well as the eastern central areas of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas and Los Rios. The curfew will last from March 15 through March 30.

Reimberg stated that the restrictions are necessary to minimize civilian casualties. “We need the roads clear because there will be troop movements,” he said. “We need to have the roads clear to carry out the operations.”

The US has confirmed its support for the operation, with military logistics and intelligence being provided. The move comes as President Daniel Noboa has been under pressure from US President Donald Trump to take a tougher stance on local criminal networks.

Noboa’s administration has recently taken steps to crack down on organized crime in Ecuador, including expelling Cuba’s diplomats from the country. The US has also been critical of Venezuela and has launched attacks on vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, citing combatting drug trafficking into the US.

The operation is expected to be of significant magnitude, with Reimberg stating that “the force with which we’re going to act” will be greater than previous efforts.

Source: Al Jazeera