Ecuador began two weeks of operations against drug traffickers with support from the U.S., deploying thousands of police officers and soldiers on March 15.
The two-week campaign will target criminal gangs in several dangerous provinces, including Guayas, Los Rios and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, according to the Washington Examiner. The U.S. will provide material support. Officials have imposed curfews from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. in coastal regions until March 30.
“We’re at war,” Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg told locals in several provinces, the BBC reported. “Don’t take any risks, don’t go out, stay at home.”
He announced that Ecuador was deploying over 75,000 soldiers and police officers for the campaign, according to the outlet. Reimberg also wrote that 35,000 police officers were deployed in Guayas, Los Rios, El Oro and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas in a post on X. “To the mafias: your time is up. Nothing can stop us,” the post said.
35 mil efectivos de @PoliciaEcuador desplegados en Guayas, Los Ríos, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas y El Oro. Listos por 🇪🇨.
A las mafias: se les acabó su tiempo.
Nada nos detiene. pic.twitter.com/q2vP6CSG73
— John Reimberg (@JohnReimberg) March 15, 2026