Ecuador - Drugs - 2024
On 03 January 2024 Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa sent to the Constitutional Court the 11 questions for a popular consultation on security issues that he wishes to carry out this year. In their fundamental parts, the questions are as follows:
1. Are you in favor of the Armed Forces taking actions to prevent and eradicate the activity of transnational criminal organizations operating inside and outside the national territory?
2. Do you agree that the Armed Forces should permanently control weapons, ammunition, explosives, and accessories on the routes, roads, and corridors authorized for entry to prisons?
3. Do you agree that members of the Armed Forces, National Police, and the Penitentiary Security and Surveillance Corps should not be deprived of their freedom or placed under house arrest while under investigation or legal process for acts committed with the use of force?
4. Do you agree to increase the penalties for the crimes of: (i) terrorism and its financing, (ii) production and illicit trafficking of substances subject to control, (iii) organized crime, (iv) murder, (v) assassination, (vi) human trafficking, (vii) extortionate kidnapping, (viii) arms trafficking, (ix) money laundering, and (x) illicit mining activities?
5. Do you agree that people deprived of their freedom should serve their entire sentence within a social rehabilitation center? 6. Do you agree to classify the crime of possession or carrying of weapons, ammunition, or components that are for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces or National Police, without affecting firearms allowed for civilian use?
7. Do you agree that weapons, their parts or pieces, explosives, ammunition, or accessories that were instruments or material objects of a crime can be allocated for the immediate use of the National Police or Armed Forces?
8. Do you agree to evaluate the officials of the Judicial Function, including an audit of their asset declarations?
9. Do you agree that the State proceeds to be the owner of assets of illicit or unjustified origin, simplifying the procedure of the Asset Forfeiture Law?
10. Do you agree to reform the procedures for the inadmission, deportation, and expulsion of foreigners to control migration and strengthen State security?
11. Do you agree to allow the operation of casinos, gaming rooms, betting houses, or businesses dedicated to gambling?
Through these questions, President Noboa seeks to address the exponential increase in violence and organized crime in Ecuador. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on the adherence of the questions to constitutional principles.
On 04 January 2024 the Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa confirmed that his administration will build prisons similar to those existing in Mexico and El Salvador. "The prisons will be ready in about 11 months. They will have the same design as the Mexican and Salvadoran prisons because they will be built by the same company," he said. They will be similar to those built by the Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, Noboa reaffirmed and invited Ecuadorian 'Bukele Fans' to visit them. "If you want to go, take a walk, get to know them, and spend a night there, you can go. Just commit a crime," he joked amidst laughter from the interviewers.
"We must have the best companies building the best prisons here," he added and explained that the high-security prisons will be built in the Pastaza province in the Amazon region and in the Santa Elena province on the coast. "These sites were chosen because they have the least influence from narcoterrorist groups. Some of them want to self-identify as 'urban groups' as if they were reggaeton singers, but they are narcoterrorist groups," Noboa pointed out and indicated that the new prisons will contain appropriate mechanisms to segment and isolate individuals.
The prisons will be located between 20 and 30 minutes away by vehicle from the population because supply problems would arise if they were located in very remote areas, he confirmed, indicating that the construction of the first prison will begin in a few days. During the administration of Guillermo Lasso (2021-2023), Ecuadorian prisons became the scene of bloody massacres among inmates fighting for control of the facilities.
Journalist Adriana Noboa Arregui in Quito said the president had "declared war on gangs" and was trying to regain control of the prison system. "But that is going to be hard because the gangs have control now," she said. On 08 January 2024, a series of incidents qualified as terrorist acts were recorded, car bombs, fires in gas stations, as well as the taking of prison guides hostage by criminals and the dissemination of messages through different social networks.
Ecuadorian drug trafficking groups have been behind terrorist actions such as the burning of vehicles, the kidnapping of police and security agents, riots in prisons and the destruction of a pedestrian bridge. Previously, riots occurred in six prisons where at least 39 prisoners escaped, with 12 of them being recaptured later. One of the criminals who escaped was Fabricio Colon Pico. Just three days ago, he was arrested for alleged threats against Attorney General Diana Salazar. An explosive device was detonated near the residence in Quito of Ecuadorian Supreme Court President Ivan Saquicela, located north of Quito
President Daniel Noboa decreed 09 January 2024 the recognition of the presence of an internal armed conflict. The executive decree reforms the current state of exception recognizing the existence of an internal armed conflict with a curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am. It is established as an additional cause to the state of exception declared the day before. It provides for the immediate mobilization and intervention of the Armed Forces and the Police in the national territory.
The decree also orders the Armed Forces "to execute military operations, under international humanitarian law and respecting human rights, to neutralize the groups identified in Article 4 of this Executive Decree." The drug trafficking groups issued statements warning that they would attack police and military personnel during the curfew. This threat was immediately carried out since at least 4 police officers were kidnapped by criminals in the cities of Puerto Bolivar and Quito.
"I have signed the executive decree declaring Internal Armed Conflict and identified the following transnational organized crime groups as terrorist organizations and belligerent non-state actors: Aguilas, AguilasKiller, Ak47, Caballeros Oscuros, ChoneKiller, Choneros, Choneros, Covicheros, Cuartel de las Feas, Cubanos, Fatales, Gánster, Kater Piler, Lagartos, Latin Kings, Lobos, Los p.27, Los Tiburones, Mafia 18, Mafia Trébol, Patrones, R7, Tiguerones. I have ordered the Armed Forces to execute military operations to neutralize these groups."
During a radio interview on 10 January 2024, President Daniel Noboa assured that he will not negotiate with armed criminal groups linked to international drug trafficking. "We are in a state of war and we cannot give in to these terrorists," Noboa said in his first public intervention since the current insecurity crisis broke out on Monday night. On that day, authorities admitted that Adolfo Macias (aka Fito), the leader of "The Choneros" gang, had escaped from a security prison on a date that has not been determined so far.
Members of organized crime groups operating in Ecuador will be considered "terrorists," Noboa emphasized and warned that judges, prosecutors, police, and soldiers who support drug traffickers or members of those groups will also be treated as "terrorists." Locals in Ecuador can be seen arming themselves and joining forces with the police to combat the rising narcoterrorism sweeping through their country.
"Every terrorist group has become a military objective," the Ecuadorian President said, adding that "practically, we are in a non-international armed conflict. We are fighting for peace." When asked about what will happen to 135 guards who remain kidnapped in the prisons, Noboa warned that he will not give in to the prisoners' demands and clarified that the military will intervene in the prisons.
"We are doing everything possible and impossible to bring all the guards safe and sound. But we cannot stop the war over this matter. The State is at war in all the provinces," he said, revealing that the U.S. Ambassador Michael Fitzpatrick confirmed that his country will collaborate with Ecuadorian security policies through an "assistance package." Over the last 24 hours, Ecuadorian security forces arrested around 70 people allegedly linked to violent acts perpetrated by drug traffickers throughout the country.
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