South American country Ecuador declares emergency over rising tensions on gang crimes

Ecuador’s President, Guillermo Lasso, declared an emergency in the three western states of the country owing to rising gang crimes.

Thousands of soldiers will march on the streets of Guayas, Manabí, and Esmeraldas to “enforce peace and order”, tweeted the President. A sharp rise in the number of gang-related crimes like murders and thefts has forced the curfew in the mentioned states. According to a report by BBC, this is the second time that Lasso has proceeded with a curfew as a means to stop gang-related crime.

Lasso tweeted “The streets will feel the weight of the security forces,” Nearly, 4000 Police officers and 5000 troops would be deployed to manage the curfew. He further added, “Peace will never be sacrificed to criminal gangs.” Reports suggest that drug trafficking is being termed as a reason for Ecuador’s gang-related crimes. It is a transit route for the cocaine smuggled from Peru and Colombia.

 

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