Ecuador implements law for military support to police

A new organic law regulating the complementary and subsidiary support of the Ecuadorian Armed Forces to the National Police entered into force on September 1, 2026. The legislation establishes procedures for military involvement in internal security operations to combat organized crime, including drug trafficking, terrorism, extortion, and illegal mining.

The law does not replace or eliminate states of exception; instead, military support operates within the ordinary legal regime. This intervention can be requested when there is a verifiable operational insufficiency within the National Police. The military's role is defined as complementary and subsidiary, meaning it does not substitute police competencies or command structures.

Regarding civil liberties, the law does not authorize military or police personnel to enter private properties, conduct searches, or occupy assets without following established legal procedures. Constitutional protections regarding the inviolability of the home and property rights remain in effect. All military actions must adhere to principles of exceptionality, proportionality, and reasonableness, as mandated by the Constitution and international instruments ratified by Ecuador.