QUITO May 23. 2024 (Saba) - Ecuadorian authorities announced on Thursday the imposition of a state of emergency in seven provinces, accounting for about one-third of its provinces, due to the escalation of violence amidst the government's war against drug gangs.
Local media reports indicated that authorities have ordered the deployment of soldiers in the streets for a period of 60 days in seven of its 24 provinces, based on a government decree.
The decree stated that the provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Santa Elena, Manabi, Los Rios, Sucumbios, and Orellana have witnessed an increase in violence in recent days committed by organized crime groups and terrorist organizations.
Ecuador, bordering the two largest cocaine-producing countries, Colombia and Peru, has seen a rise in violence in recent years as gangs with connections to Mexican and Colombian cartels compete for control.
Gang wars largely take place inside prisons, where gang leaders wield significant influence. These battles have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of prisoners since 2021, with their bodies often found decapitated or burned.
H.H
resource : Saba
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