Daniel Noboa reports drop in Ecuador crime rates

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa reported a significant decrease in crime following recent security measures. According to the president, homicide rates dropped by more than 30% during a two-week curfew implemented between September 17 and September 30, 2026. The curfew was applied in high-conflict provinces, including Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos, and El Oro.

Noboa also highlighted a reduction in extortion cases, specifically noting a 35% decrease in Quito and Guayaquil. He attributed this decline to operations targeting “invisible bosses” and the leadership of criminal structures, aiming to dismantle their financial foundations. The president stated that capturing high-level figures forces lower-level groups to struggle for survival.

During his statements, Noboa mentioned that some captured individuals were allegedly representatives of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) located on Mocolí Island. While the executive branch maintains an optimistic outlook on the effectiveness of these strategies, some analysts and opposition sectors have expressed caution regarding the official statistics.