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23 clusters · 124 sources · 73 days · First seen · Last updated

Ecuadorian police operations and security measures

Overview

Ecuadorian law enforcement and military forces have conducted several operations targeting various forms of criminal activity across different regions. In Guayas and Tungurahua, police arrested individuals involved in extortion and the theft of copper cable. In Playas, the Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit (Unase) detained two adults and one minor suspected of demanding $5,000 through threats. In Ambato, three Colombian nationals were arrested for allegedly stealing approximately 300 meters of copper cable from the electrical company EEASA. Following these actions, the National Police launched the ‘Apolo 36’ operation in the Quito Metropolitan District, targeting the Eloy Alfaro and Quitumbe districts, which resulted in the arrest of seven individuals for drug trafficking and the seizure of 19 kilograms of suspected cocaine. In the Esmeraldas province, raids in the Esmeraldas and Quinindé cantons led to the arrest of six individuals linked to three separate extortion investigations. Authorities seized seven mobile devices, one firearm, and one motorcycle during these operations. In north-central Quito, police dismantled a suspected international extortion call center operating under the guise of the company Latameris Support S.A. at the Torre Blanca building. The raid resulted in the arrest of ten individuals, including a Chinese national identified as suspected leader Yang Xiao Long. Investigators uncovered messages containing threats, sexual intimidation, and violent imagery used to extort victims both within Ecuador and internationally. On August 22, 2026, UNASE conducted operations across five provinces—Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, and Esmeraldas—resulting in the arrest of 24 individuals suspected of kidnapping and extortion. Subsequently, during ‘Operativo Libertad 978’, police dismantled an extortion ring operating from within correctional facilities, including the Guayas N.° 4 Regional Prison. On August 27, 2026, security forces continued nationwide crackdowns. In early September 2026, security operations expanded.

Entities

John Reimberg · Ecuadorian National Police · Los Lobos · National Police of Ecuador · Quito

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Coverage disagrees

Sources make claims that cannot both be true. CLSTR reports the disagreement; it does not decide who is right.

  • "The curfew will run from 00:00 on September 17 until 23:59 on September 30, 2026."

    vs

    "The curfew in Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos, and El Oro provinces ended at 05:00 on September 30, 2026."

    The first claim asserts the curfew lasts until the end of September 30, while the second claim asserts it ended at 05:00 on that same day.

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Ecuadorian authorities seize weapons and explosives in Milagro and Guayaquil

    Ecuadorian police seized firearms, ammunition, and high-power explosives, including C4 and Claymore mines, during operations in Milagro and Guayaquil.

  2. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Crime investigations intensify in Ecuador and Guatemala

    Authorities in Ecuador are investigating a dismembered body found during a military raid in Posorja, while Guatemalan investigators probe potential police misconduct in a high-profile double murder case.

  3. [CRIME] 25 sources
    Posorja military operation uncovers criminal site and dismembered body

    Ecuadorian military forces arrested five suspects in Posorja after discovering a criminal site used to destroy evidence. The operation uncovered a dismembered body and several incinerated vehicles.

  4. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Ecuador struggles to contain organized crime and illegal mining

    Ecuador faces a persistent security crisis as organized crime groups like Los Lobos and Choneros expand through drug trafficking and illegal mining, despite increased militarization and US cooperation.

  5. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Ecuadorian police dismantle extortion and kidnapping networks

    Ecuadorian police arrested dozens of suspects in nationwide operations targeting extortion and kidnapping rings, including members of the 'Los Lobos' gang and an active-duty military member.

  6. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Ecuadorian authorities seize large drug shipments in Quevedo and Esmeraldas

    Ecuadorian authorities have seized significant quantities of drugs in recent operations, including 188kg of marijuana in Esmeraldas and a drug storage hub in Quevedo linked to organized crime.

  7. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Police conduct arrests in Peru robbery and Ecuador extortion cases

    Police in Peru and Ecuador have made significant arrests in separate criminal cases involving an armed robbery in Gregorio Albarracín and an extortion ring targeting Guayaquil and Durán.

  8. [CRIME] 27 sources
    Ecuadorian police and Europol dismantle international cocaine trafficking network

    Ecuadorian and European authorities dismantled a transnational cocaine network, seizing 42.5 tons of drugs worth an estimated USD 1.765 billion and arresting 21 people, including two police officers.

  9. [CRIME] 6 sources
    Ecuador organized crime: Analysis of 530 criminal captures

    Data from 530 criminal captures in Ecuador between 2024 and 2026 shows the rising influence of Los Lobos and a decline in Los Choneros captures, alongside increased international law enforcement activity.

  10. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Police launch security operation in Chongón, Ecuador

    Ecuadorian police launched the ‘Fortalecimiento’ operation in Chongón, Guayaquil, to increase security and address reports of gang activity from groups such as ‘Los Tiguerones’ and ‘Los Fatales’.

  11. [INTERNATIONAL] 21 sources
    Ecuador lifts curfew in four provinces while state of exception continues

    Ecuador's curfew in Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos, and El Oro ended on September 30, 2026, but the state of exception remains. Security forces reported 2,561 arrests during recent operations.

  12. [CRIME] 13 sources
    Ecuador security forces intensify operations against organized crime

    Ecuadorian security forces are intensifying operations against organized crime, seizing large amounts of cash, weapons, and drugs while strengthening border cooperation with Peru to fight illegal mining.

  13. [CRIME] 11 sources
    Ecuador police arrest 27 people in multi-province extortion crackdown

    Ecuadorian police arrested 27 people in simultaneous operations across six provinces for involvement in extortion rackets totaling $179,000.

  14. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Police dismantle criminal gangs in Venezuela and Ecuador

    Police in Venezuela and Ecuador have dismantled criminal groups: a gang of six minors stealing school equipment in Mérida and a faction of Los Tiguerones in Guayaquil resulting in 13 arrests.

  15. [INTERNATIONAL] 13 sources
    Security operations and crime crackdowns reported in Ecuador and Argentina

    Security operations in Ecuador led to 901 arrests and major counterfeit alcohol seizures, while Argentina reported the discovery of three hand grenades in a private home in La Cruz.

  16. [INTERNATIONAL] 26 sources
    Ecuador imposes nighttime curfew in four coastal provinces

    Ecuador will implement a nighttime curfew in Guayas, Manabí, Los Ríos, and El Oro from September 17 to 30, 2026, to combat organized crime. Movement is restricted daily between 00:00 and 05:00.

  17. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Quevedo merchant extortion case leads to suspect's arrest

    A man in Quevedo, Ecuador, faces preventive detention for allegedly extorting USD 18,000 from a merchant through threatening messages and bank deposits.

  18. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Quito police operations in Calderón spark security results and political tension

    Police operations in Quito's Calderón district led to significant drug and weapon seizures, while local political candidates accused authorities of attempting unlawful arrests during a public event.

  19. [CRIME] 10 sources
    Ecuador security operations target organized crime in Guayaquil and Quito

    Ecuadorian police and military have launched multiple operations against organized crime, resulting in weapon seizures in Guayaquil, nightlife closures in Quito, and arrests for extortion and terrorism.

  20. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Quito police arrest three suspects in teenage extortion case

    Ecuadorian police arrested three suspects in Quito and Otavalo following an extortion attempt against a 13-year-old boy involving threats of violence and drug involvement.

  21. [CRIME] 8 sources
    Ecuador security forces conduct nationwide crime crackdowns

    Ecuadorian police and military forces have conducted multiple operations nationwide, seizing explosives, drugs, and weapons while arresting several suspects linked to extortion and organized crime.

  22. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Ecuadorian police arrest six in Esmeraldas extortion raids

    Six people were arrested during police raids in Ecuador's Esmeraldas province following investigations into alleged extortion and threats against victims.

  23. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Ecuadorian police arrest suspects in extortion and copper theft cases

    Ecuadorian police arrested three individuals for a $5,000 extortion attempt in Playas and apprehended three Colombian nationals for stealing copper electrical cables in Ambato.

Sources

actualidad.rt.com · ahoradigital.net · ahoragranada.com · ahoranoticiasrd.com · alairenoticias.com · aldia.com.ec · aldiaonline.net · balkanweb.com · barrigaverde.net · brasil247.com · caretas.pe · centrotvecuador.com · cerolatitud.ec · clm24.es · colombia.com · combonoticias.com · confirmado.net · cronica.com.ec · cybermexico.mx · defensa.gob.ec · diariocorreo.pe · diariodechimbote.com · diariodelnorte.net · diarioextra.com · diarioimagen.com.ar · diariolaopinion.pe · diariolosandes.com.ec · digitalsantotome.com.ar · donostitik.com · ecuadorcomunicacion.com · ecuadorendirecto.com · eje21.com.co · elbuentono.com.mx · elcalbucano.cl · elclarinweb.com · elcomercio.com · elcomercio.com.ec · eldigitaldealbacete.com · elheraldo.com.ec · elinformativo.hn · elmercurio.com.ec · elmercuriomanta.ec · elmihwar.com · elnacional.com.do · elnorte.ec · elnuevotiempo.com · eluniverso.com · epinvestiga.com

This summary has been updated 14 times: see revision history