QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s government announced plans Wednesday for a large-scale military campaign targeting criminal organizations across three western provinces, with logistical assistance from United States forces.
Interior Minister John Reimberg announced during a radio interview that authorities will implement a nighttime curfew running from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. between March 15-30 across Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas provinces — regions experiencing the highest violence rates in the South American nation.
Reimberg emphasized that residents must remain indoors during curfew hours and keep streets clear to allow military personnel and equipment to move freely through the areas.
“We do not want collateral victims from the attacks we are about to launch,” Reimberg said. “We have significant support from U.S. forces for the operations we are about to carry out.”
The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador did not provide immediate response to requests for comment from news organizations.
When contacted Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Southern Command referenced earlier statements from Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan following March 3 military strikes: “We commend 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.”
The announcement follows recent joint military operations between Ecuador and the United States targeting organized crime networks, though neither nation previously disclosed specific locations or operational scope.
Reimberg described the upcoming strikes as efforts to “destroy what they have built in various parts of the country,” but refused to elaborate on tactical details for security reasons.
Beginning in early 2021, Ecuador has confronted persistent attacks from organized crime networks that law enforcement officials say maintain strong connections to drug trafficking organizations operating in Colombia and Mexico.
Authorities identify Ecuador as a critical logistics center for international drug smuggling operations, functioning as a transit and distribution point for narcotics — primarily originating from Colombia, with additional shipments from Peru. Officials report these illegal substances move through Ecuadorian ports toward destinations including Central America, the United States and Europe.
