AMN
Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso announced a state of emergency, on Friday for two months in three provinces with the highest registered levels of violence due to drug trafficking.
According to media reports, under the state of emergency, he had ordered the mobilization of 4,000 police and 5,000 military personnel to the provinces. A curfew will also be enforced between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. for certain areas.
Drug trafficking in Ecuador has led to an increase in crime, which has left 1,255 people dead since the start of the year, according to official figures.
Since February 2021, there have also been several killings in Ecuador between imprisoned gang members linked to drug trafficking, resulting in 350 deaths.