Ecuador is taking drastic action as gang violence spirals out of control. President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency in three crime-plagued provinces — Guayas, Manabí, and Esmeraldas — imposing a nighttime curfew and deploying thousands of security forces in an effort to regain control.
Troops Flood the Streets
Lasso announced on social media that 5,000 soldiers and 4,000 police officers will be sent into the affected regions to “enforce peace and order.” The curfew will restrict movement overnight as authorities try to disrupt gang operations that have fueled a nationwide surge in killings.
This marks the second time since taking office last year that Lasso has invoked emergency powers to combat soaring violence.
A Country Overrun by Cartels
Ecuador, once considered one of South America’s safer nations, is now battling an unprecedented wave of crime tied to the international drug trade. Massive quantities of cocaine from Peru and Colombia flow through Ecuadorian ports, making the country a critical transit hub for global cartels — including powerful Mexican drug syndicates that now operate through local gangs.
Officials say turf wars, assassinations, and extortion have pushed homicide rates to historic highs, leaving communities terrified and security forces overstretched.
A Desperate Bid for Stability
Lasso insists the emergency measures are essential to stop the violence before it destabilizes the entire country. “We must restore peace,” he said, vowing to confront the drug networks driving Ecuador’s security crisis.
Whether the troop surge will be enough remains uncertain, but the government is betting heavily that a show of force can stem the chaos.