At a press conference this Wednesday, the official explained that specialized investigators are investigating each of the homicides because each case is different.
According to Goyes, on January 1, several violent incidents occurred in the municipality of Durán, in the coastal province of Guayas, resulting in the arrest of people with firearms, including a minor.
Ecuador ended 2023 as the most violent country in Latin America, with more than seven thousand murders.
Given this scenario, Goyes indicated that they are working with seven districts with the greatest conflicts and in 26 crime prediction areas, where they have developed coordinated work with the armed forces.
He stated that as part of these coordinated operations, 658 firearms, 13,964 ammunition and 832 knives were seized in December.
Armed Forces Joint Command operations chief Alexander Levoyer confirmed that the army has intensified joint operations to control weapons and explosives, with a focus on key cities, beaches, shopping centers and roads to keep tourism and other activities flowing. economic activities.
The escalation of insecurity remains the main concern of Ecuadorians, although there are only two days left until the start of 2024.
Citizens are demanding concrete and urgent measures from President Daniel Noboa, who during his election campaign presented the so-called Phoenix Plan to end the violence, and although they confirm that the strategy is already showing effectiveness, in practice criminal acts still occur.
Today the President presented his proposal for a referendum with 11 questions submitted to the Constitutional Court for consideration, aimed at restoring calm in the country.
However, politicians and analysts comment that the questions do not meet the needs of this South American nation as they include questions about legal reforms that are already being discussed in the legislature.
Previously, former President Rafael Correa called Noboa's plebiscite proposal inappropriate and warned that one of the issues related to the reactivation of casinos or gaming halls attracts organized crime and money laundering.
mem/avr