Ecuador prepares for major offensive against criminal groups with US logistical support

Quito, Ecuador — Ecuador will launch a major offensive this weekend against criminal organizations in three western provinces with logistical support from the United States, the interior minister said Wednesday.

Speaking to a local radio station, Interior Minister John Reimberg urged citizens to observe a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. from March 15-30 in Guayas, Los Rios and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas provinces, three of the most violent in the South American country.

Residents should remain in their homes under the curfew and roads should be cleared to facilitate movement of troops and equipment, he said.

“We don’t want collateral victims from the attacks we’re about to launch,” Reimberg said. “We have significant support from US forces for the operations we are about to undertake.”

The US Embassy in Ecuador did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment from The Associated Press.

Asked for comment Wednesday afternoon, US Southern Command only reiterated comments made by Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan after the March 3 strikes: “We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and addressing drug addiction in their country through continued action.”

The announcement came days after Ecuador and the US launched a joint military operation against organized crime groups in the South American country, but at the time neither government gave details on the location and scope of the operation.

Raids against violent criminal groups “are aimed at destroying what they have built in different parts of the country,” Reimberg said, though he declined to give specifics, citing security concerns.

Later on Wednesday, Ecuador and the US announced an agreement to establish the first-ever FBI office in Ecuador, a move US Embassy chargé d’affaires Lawrence Petroni described as “a very important milestone” in strengthening the operational bond between the FBI and Ecuadorian police.

An FBI office will begin operations at the U.S. Embassy in Quito, police said. Vice President Maria Jose Pinto praised the initiative to “better investigate and understand criminal threats.”

Since early 2021, Ecuador has faced a relentless assault by organized crime groups that, according to police, have close ties to drug trafficking cartels in Colombia and Mexico.

Ecuador is considered a logistical hub for drug trafficking, serving as a staging and distribution center for drugs entering the country – primarily from Colombia, with shipments also coming from Peru. According to authorities, these illegal shipments are transported from Ecuadorian ports to Central America, the United States and Europe, among other destinations. ___

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