Ecuador readies a major offensive on criminal groups with US logistical support

Ecuador Launches Major Offensive Against Criminal Groups with US Support

Ecuador will begin a significant military operation against criminal organizations in three of its most violent western provinces this weekend, Interior Minister John Reimberg announced Wednesday. The operation will receive logistical support from the United States as part of an escalating effort to combat organized crime in the South American nation.

Residents in Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas provinces must observe a nightly curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. between March 15-30, Reimberg said during a radio interview. The minister emphasized that civilians need to remain in their homes during curfew hours to keep roads clear for military movements.

“We do not want collateral victims from the attacks we are about to launch,” Reimberg stated. “We have significant support from U.S. forces for the operations we are about to carry out.”

The announcement follows the recent commencement of joint military operations between Ecuador and the United States against organized crime groups, although details about the scope and location had previously been withheld. When approached for comment, the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador did not immediately respond to the Associated Press.

The U.S. Southern Command only reiterated earlier statements made by Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan after March 3 strikes, praising “the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country.”

Reimberg indicated that the upcoming offensive aims to “destroy what they have built in various parts of the country,” though he declined to provide specific operational details, citing security concerns.

In a related development later Wednesday, Ecuador and the United States announced an agreement to establish the first-ever FBI office in Ecuador. U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Lawrence Petroni described the move as “a very important milestone” in strengthening the operational relationship between the FBI and Ecuadorian police.

The FBI office will initially operate within the U.S. Embassy in Quito, according to police officials. Ecuador’s Vice President María José Pinto praised the initiative as essential for “better investigating and understanding criminal threats” facing the nation.

Ecuador has experienced an intensifying crisis of violence since early 2021, with organized crime groups waging a relentless campaign across the country. Police reports indicate these criminal organizations maintain close connections with drug trafficking cartels in neighboring Colombia and Mexico.

The country occupies a critical position in regional drug trafficking networks, functioning primarily as a logistics hub for narcotics. Most illicit drugs enter Ecuador from Colombia, with additional shipments arriving from Peru. Authorities report that these narcotics are subsequently transported from Ecuadorian seaports to various international destinations, including Central America, the United States, and Europe.

The three provinces targeted in the upcoming operation represent some of Ecuador’s most violence-afflicted regions, where criminal organizations have established significant operational bases. The joint operations with U.S. support signal an escalation in Ecuador’s approach to combating the growing power of these groups.

This intensified security cooperation with the United States marks a significant shift in Ecuador’s strategy against drug trafficking and organized crime, prioritizing international partnerships to address what has become one of the country’s most pressing security challenges.

For residents of the affected provinces, the two-week curfew represents the most visible immediate impact of this new security initiative, as authorities prepare to launch what appears to be the most substantial offensive against criminal organizations in recent years.