Armed Forces will firmly fight organized crime in Ecuador, minister announces

The Minister of Defense of Ecuador, Luis Lara, announced yesterday, Friday, that the Armed Forces will firmly fight criminal gangs linked to drug trafficking, which the Government blames for the growing wave of insecurity that the country is experiencing with violent acts that it qualifies as “terrorist”.

“Ecuadorians can be sure that in the actions against terrorist acts, we will not hesitate to put into practice all the experience, capacity, and professionalism of our soldiers,” said Lara in a press conference.

The military chief added that “it is now “time to say enough to these criminals and their allies”.

He referred, in this context, to dangerous criminal gangs operating in Ecuador that, in recent months, have unleashed a series of violent acts throughout the country.

These acts include bombings, armed attacks, kidnappings, murders, extortions, robberies, and other crimes that have generated fear in the population.

The Defense Minister’s warning comes a day after the State and Public Security Council (Cosepe), the highest advisory body to the Government in emergencies, declared terrorism a “threat” to the State and, consequently, to its integral security.

The Council also recommended President Guillermo Lasso issue an executive decree establishing “coercive, urgent and effective measures that include using lethal weapons to combat this serious threat that affects the Ecuadorian people”.

Lara indicated that, in this new scenario, the law does not consider terrorists only those who carry out the attacks with explosives and their accomplices. It also applies to those who protect them, launder the illicit money, and provide them with logistics.

“Legitimate use of force will be made, and if necessary, lethal weapons will be used”, anticipated Lara, after pointing out that the Armed Forces will update their strategies.

In recent weeks, the Armed Forces have gained prominence due to the unusual presence of the military in the streets and in the most conflictive areas of the country to combat and eradicate criminal and delinquent groups.