Guillermo Lasso’s government is asking for international support to fight organized crime,
especially from the US. (Photo: PL)
QUITO, Dec 29 (RHC) Ecuador enters December with a rate of 25.09 violent deaths per 100,000 people, the highest in decades, according to data released by Interior Minister Juan Zapata.
The headline stated that this figure does not include this week’s killings and added that the provinces with the highest number of killings are Guayas, Esmeraldas, El Oro, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Santa Elena.
We are working precisely in these post-emergency areas, Zapata pointed out this Thursday at a press conference on security operations during the year-end holidays.
He also pointed out that 83 percent of premeditated deaths are linked to drug trafficking and infighting between organized crime groups, adding that for this reason they focus on fighting these gangs.
In 2010, the intentional homicide rate was 17.5; then, in 2017, at the end of President Rafael Correa’s term in office, it fell to 5.8; and in five years that number quadrupled.
The day before, Secretary of State for Public Security Diego Ordóñez said that the killing spree of recent months was the result of the state’s “effective action” due to the constant seizures of drugs, with nearly 200 tons seized in 2022.
This opinion contrasts with that of experts and citizens, who are calling on the government to implement comprehensive public measures to curb violence and insecurity.
In the midst of this scenario, Guillermo Lasso’s government is asking for international support to fight organized crime, particularly from the United States, where the President recently traveled to guarantee support.
In addition, they have cooperation with Colombia, a country with which senior military commanders signed a plan on Wednesday to stop drug trafficking at the shared border.
Fausto Salinas, Commander General of the National Police, stressed today that the meeting between the two parties aimed to coordinate actions to identify organizations, armed actors, networks and trade routes.
He also commented that they analyzed the impact of drug trafficking-related crimes on the environmental impact of illegal mining exploitation and irregular migration. (Source:PL)