Highlights: Ecuadorian authorities have indicated that they now consider terrorism a threat to the country. The State Public Security Council met on Thursday, April 27 for four hours in the Presidential Palace. Ecuador seized an annual record 210 tons of drugs in 2021, mostly cocaine, bound for European ports. In 2022, seizures exceeded 200 tons of cocaine and the government declared war on traffickers, who violently defend drug routes. The army had been deployed in the past to hunt down drug traffickers and intervene in special operations, but for this to happen, it was necessary for a state of emergency.

After the appointment of two retired generals of the armed forces to strengthen the security front of the Ecuadorian state, Quito seems to want to harden its policy against drug traffickers.

In Ecuador, drug traffickers soon to be considered terrorists

Counter-narcotics police after a seizure of 3 tons of cocaine in a container of bananas, in the port of Guayaquil, Ecuador, April 1, 2022. © MARCOS PIN / AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

After the appointment of two retired generals of the armed forces to strengthen the security front of the Ecuadorian state, Quito seems to want to harden its policy against drug traffickers. The State Public Security Council met on Thursday, April 27 for four hours in the Presidential Palace to finally make mixed decisions.

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This is undoubtedly a first step, but more symbolic than anything else, reports our correspondent in Quito, Eric Samson. The Ecuadorian authorities have indicated that they now consider terrorism a threat to the country. A threat that the Secretary of State for Security Wagner Bravo wishes to fight firmly.

The State Public Security Council recommends that the President of the Republic issue an executive decree to establish coercive, urgent and effective measures against delinquency that include the use of lethal weapons " said Wagner Bravo.

A few days ago, however, the Minister of the Interior Henry Cucalon attacked not terrorism in a generic way, but the main mafia gangs of the country such as the Choneros, the Chone Killers, the Wolves, the R7, the Gangsters, the Lagartos, the Tiguerones and the Fatales...

These groups, which are unfortunately more dangerous every day, must be considered terrorist organizations so that the police and armed forces can act with the full force of the law to stop this threat. " said Henry Cucalon. To justify the use of the word "terrorist," Bravo said drug traffickers "attack police barracks, enter hospitals, use car bombs, plant bombs near gas stations ... This is terrorism ».

These drug trafficking organizations have not yet been declared "terrorists" even though this is probably only partially postponed. The armed forces, in any case, are already preparing to intervene on the ground.

Wave of violence

The army had been deployed in the past to hunt down drug traffickers and intervene in special operations, but for this to happen, it was necessary for the government to declare a state of emergency. "From now on, we will no longer need the state of emergency, because it is one of the missions of the armed forces," Bravo said.

Ecuador is facing a wave of violence due to a power struggle between gangs involved in drug trafficking. Located between Colombia and Peru, the world's main cocaine-producing countries, Ecuador seized an annual record 210 tons of drugs in 2021, mostly cocaine, bound for European ports. In 2022, seizures exceeded 200 tons of drugs and the government declared war on traffickers, who violently defend drug routes.

At the same time, the homicide rate has almost doubled. Between 2021 and 2022, it rose from 14 to 25 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to authorities.

► Read also: Ecuador: new outbreak of deadly violence in the prison of Guayaquil

In Ecuador, drug traffickers soon to be considered terrorists

In Ecuador, drug traffickers soon to be considered terrorists

Wave of violence

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