In an unprecedented security mobilization, the Ecuadorian government has initiated a sweeping counter-narcotics operation across four provinces severely impacted by drug-related violence. Interior Minister John Reimberg confirmed the deployment of over 75,000 combined police and military personnel to the regions of El Oro, Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, alongside the implementation of nighttime curfews as part of what authorities term a “new phase” in their campaign against criminal organizations.
The substantial escalation comes despite President Daniel Noboa’s sustained efforts to combat cartel violence since assuming office in November 2023. Official statistics reveal a troubling 30% surge in homicides between 2024 and 2025, culminating in a record murder rate last year, underscoring the persistent challenges facing the nation.
Ecuador’s strategic positioning between Colombia and Peru—the world’s primary cocaine producers—has established the country as a critical transit hub for illicit narcotics. An estimated 70% of cocaine originating from these neighboring nations is trafficked through Ecuadorian territory en route to international markets, particularly the United States.
In response to this transnational threat, the Noboa administration has forged a strategic alliance with the United States, participating in a 17-nation coalition led by President Donald Trump targeting criminal networks throughout the Western Hemisphere. This collaboration recently manifested through the establishment of the FBI’s first operational office in Ecuador and the launch of joint counter-narcotic initiatives.
The partnership was further solidified during the “Shield of the Americas” summit convened by President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, where he characterized criminal syndicates as a “cancer” requiring military intervention. Following the high-level meeting, President Noboa publicly affirmed his commitment to confronting transnational organized crime, stating via social media: “For too long, the mafias thought that America was their territory. That they could cross borders, move drugs, guns and [spread] violence without consequences. Their time has run out.”