Highlights: Ecuador: more than 10,000 arrests in the “internal war” against crime. Massive presence of police and soldiers in the streets has also reduced the number of daily homicides from 27 to 11. On paper, the results of the first seven weeks of the fight against delinquency since the beginning of January in Ecuador are impressive. The Security Axis integrated by the military, police and government authorities speaks of more than 123,000 operations carried out against gangs, or more than 2,600 per day. At this rate, Ecuador could double this year the tonnage of cocaine seizures.

The symbolic milestone of 10,000 detainees has just been crossed in Ecuador, 47 days after the declaration of a state of exception and “internal armed war” against 22 gangs now considered…

Ecuador: more than 10,000 arrests in the “internal war” against crime

The symbolic milestone of 10,000 detainees has just been crossed in Ecuador, 47 days after the declaration of a state of exception and “internal armed war” against 22 gangs now considered terrorists.

The massive presence of police and soldiers in the streets has also reduced the number of daily homicides from 27 to 11. An overall positive result, but which nonetheless contains certain gray areas.

Soldiers escort prisoners from the Cotopaxi penitentiary facility, in Latacunga, Ecuador, February 22, 2024. AP - Dolores Ochoa

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Quito

Éric Samson

On paper, the results of the

first seven weeks of the fight against delinquency

since the beginning of January in Ecuador are impressive.

The Security Axis integrated by the military, police and government authorities speaks of more than 123,000 operations carried out against gangs, or more than 2,600 per day.

More than 10,300 people were arrested, and 3,000 firearms were seized, as well as 20,000 explosives, 200,000 bullets, more than 4,000 bladed weapons, 2,000 cars and motorcycles, 28 boats, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and above all, nearly 65 tons of drugs.

Also listen: Ecuador in a state of “internal war”

At this rate, Ecuador could double this year the tonnage of cocaine seizures which, since 2021, is more than 200 tons of the drug each year.

However, some of these results must be studied closely.

More than 10,000 people were arrested, including some major traffickers, such as the supposed leader of the Colombian cartel in the North of the Valley.

But only 300 are being investigated for terrorism by the prosecution.

A figure to be compared to some 40,000 members of armed gangs, according to President

Daniel Noboa

The leader of the Choneros gang, Adolfo Macías, alias Fito

, has still not been recaptured, although his escape in early January caused an explosion of violence in the country.

The Ecuadorian state has generally regained control of the prisons, now in the hands of the military, but the recent escape of three dangerous inmates from Latacunga shows that certain corruption networks are still in place there.

Read also Ecuador: the resumption of power in secure hands welcomed by the population, despite the risks of slippage

Ecuador: more than 10,000 arrests in the “internal war” against crime

Ecuador: more than 10,000 arrests in the “internal war” against crime

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