President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa, during an address to the nation, announced his intention to further strengthen the fight against organized crime with the support of the United States. This was reported by AP, according to UNN.
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Speaking in parliament in Quito, Noboa stated that the authorities have already extradited more than ten crime bosses to the US and seized nearly 300 tons of drugs.
"We will seek them out, find them, and extradite them,"
Since 2021, Ecuador has experienced a sharp increase in violence due to gangs fighting for control over cocaine smuggling routes. In response, Noboa declared a state of emergency and authorized the military to conduct joint operations with the police, including searches without warrants. Earlier, Ecuadorian security forces also conducted an operation alongside the US military against a drug traffickers' camp.
At the same time, human rights activists criticize the president's methods, stating that the harsh measures have not yielded a noticeable reduction in crime and create risks for civilians. International Crisis Group analyst Gladys Gonzalez stated that "progress in the fight against violence is still far from being achieved." Despite this, Noboa also reported improvements in economic indicators and a reduction in the poverty level in the country.
US conducted deadly operation against drug cartels in Ecuador07.03.26, 05:40