Ecuador expects weapons, technology and training from the United States and Andean country allies against drug trafficking

Ecuador seeks to strengthen itself in its multi-front war against narco-terrorism. President Daniel Noboa has already anticipated that the state of emergency with the army in the streets will be extended for another 30 days upon expiry. He also expects weapons, technology and training from the United States and has allied himself with Andean countries against the scourge of drugs.

On Monday the highest Ecuadorian authorities were to receive a US delegation chaired by the Presidential Special Advisor for the Americas, Christopher Dodd; the general of the army Laura Richardson and Bureau of Drug Enforcement and Drug Enforcement Deputy Assistant Secretary Christopher Landberg.

“The United States and the world have seen what is happening in Ecuador and know how important it is that Ecuador is protected,” Noboa said in an interview with the Teleamazonas television network in which he said the country “has become “a key element within the structure and paths of these narco-terrorist groups”.

Regarding US support, Noboa stressed that at the same time Ecuador also needs “something essential: refinancing of foreign debt… so that while we fight this war we are not financially distressed.”

Since the beginning of 2021, organized crime gangs linked to drug trafficking have unleashed a wave of insecurity with violent deaths, extortion, kidnappings and repeated prison riots which seemed to reach another level last week, when a group of hooded men took control of a television channel with weapons and explosives, which was broadcast live.

A few days earlier, Adolfo Macías, alias Fito, the dangerous leader of the country’s largest criminal organization, Los Choneros, had disappeared from a prison in Guayaquil, and then another regional leader of another gang had escaped. Fabricio Pico, which could not be located.

After thatNoboa decreed a state of internal war address rampant criminal violence with the support of combined military and police groups that maintain a strong presence on the streets.

“We are at war and we managed to stop what was an avalanche of violence and destruction,” said the Ecuadorian president, underlining that the indicators of violent deaths and crime have decreased dramatically.

Network with Andean countries

In response to the outbreak of drug-related violence in Ecuador, the Andean Community, made up of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, decided to create the first Andean Security Network, a strategic intelligence mechanism to combat organized crime.

Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld underlined the importance of the agreement. You assured that criminal violence in Ecuador is a problem for the entire region.

This safety net It will start operating in the first quarter of this year and will allow the exchange of information on transnational criminal groups The 24 hours of the dayseven days a week and notifies you immediately of your actions.

An Andean intelligence mechanism will allow the cooperation and coordination of the intelligence services of these four countries. They announced coordinated police and military operations in border areas.

Arrest of Carlos “El Gringo”

The government awaits approval from the Assembly a domain confiscation law use the assets and money of criminal groups in the fight against them. Furthermore, the Constitutional Court must approve a new agreement with the United States to facilitate the fight against groups that the government calls narco-terrorists.

On his X account, formerly Twitter, General César Zapata, police commander, said he was arrested on Sunday night Carlos L., aka El Gringo, which he defined as “a high-value objective. Leader of the Colombian armed group Oliver Sinisterra, linked to terrorist activities” in the Ecuadorian province of Esmeraldas, on the border with that country.

He added that capture was possible after three months of investigations. This group is part of the dissidents of the extinct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas who control part of the Colombian-Ecuadorian border.

Repatriation of prisoners

Noboa insisted on the proposal to free up spaces in prisons through the repatriation of around 1,500 prisoners, mainly from Colombia and Peru, For this reason he said he maintains contacts with the governments of those countries. He also confirmed that he will maintain the proposal to build two new prisons.

To address the conflict situation, the president said he is preparing to do sor cuts of 1 billion dollars to the state structure, especially in administrative and personnel expenses, “because the State must tighten its belt and make an essential sacrifice”.

With information from EFE and RFI