625 apprehended during curfew operations in four provinces of Ecuador
A total of 625 individuals were apprehended in Ecuador from March 15 to 20 for violating curfew in four provinces.
Between March 15 and 20, Ecuadorian law enforcement carried out operations resulting in the apprehension of 625 people violating the curfew established under Executive Decree 239. The operations spanned over four provinces, where authorities not only detained individuals but also intervened military objectives and confiscated a significant amount of weapons, including 44 knives and firearms. In addition, 61 vehicles and 118 motorcycles were recovered, highlighting the extensive reach of the enforcement efforts during this period.
Furthermore, the operations led to the dismantling of illegal mining camps, with a total of 129 camp sites destroyed along with the disruption of a clandestine airstrip and infrastructure used for drug trafficking out of the country. The reactions from emergency services were notably busy as the ECU911 center reported 2,875 emergency calls, while the Segura EP flagged 128 incidents related to public safety. This underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in maintaining order during the curfew measures.
On the last day of the curfew, further enforcement efforts resulted in the apprehension of 114 individuals during the hours of the curfew, specifically between 11 PM on March 19 and 5 AM on March 20. The figures disseminated by the Ministry of the Interior stress the severity of the situation and the government's commitment to enforcing these measures as a response to ongoing security issues in Ecuador.