GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador: Ecuador on Friday deployed 10,000 soldiers in three coastal provinces to fight drug-trafficking gangs blamed for a surge in violence in the once-peaceful country.
President Daniel Noboa’s government has vowed an iron-fist approach as the South American nation hits record levels of murders and other violent crimes.
Hundreds of special forces soldiers were deployed Friday to “reinforce security operations” in the provinces of Guayas, Manabi and Los Rios, Air Force General Mario Bedoya told reporters.
Planes with military personnel were also sent to Manta, the country’s main fishing port.
Ecuador is located between the world’s two top exporters of cocaine – Colombia and Peru – and has seen a surge in violence by gangs linked to Mexican and Colombian cartels.
