Wave of violence in Ecuador: Hunting terrorists, military spends night on patrols and searches

Nights in Ecuador Now is the prime moment for the police to carry out their patrols and Go hunt terrorists Since the days when the order in the country is being disturbed. While around 20,000 members of criminal gangs operate in different cities, the armed forces are stepping up their efforts and launching operations in accordance with Decree 111 ordered by Daniel Noboa, within the framework of the state of emergency.

Thanks to this, dozens of criminals were arrested in the first days of the maneuver, and the count is constantly increasing.

Guayaquil, on the Pacific coast, is one of the cities known for its high homicide rate and therefore, became one of the main fronts of this “war” declared by Noboa. The soldiers, heavily armed and masked, along with two 4×4 police vehicles, left in a convoy of three trucks shortly after 11 p.m., when the curfew began.

“In this area of ​​Pascuals we know that there are groups of organized criminals. is the area of ChonerosLt. Alexander Sansi commented, while others could be heard saying that it was time to clarify that the war had begun.

However, not everything in this war is terrorists; In order to guarantee public order, it is also important to show firmness with all sectors of the citizenry. And coincidentally, that’s what happened.

Despite the band’s obvious presence there, the night passed with surprising calm. In an effort to avoid unnecessary confrontation, criminals were conspicuous by their absence and strictly respected the government’s orders.

As the convoy moved slowly through dark streets inhabited by stray dogs, the group spotted the first suspect in the distance. They stopped the march, got out of the vehicles and stopped two men in caps and shorts who were talking on the sidewalk.

They took them against the wall and searched them thoroughly to make sure they had no weapons. “Aren’t you taking a knife or some drugs?” Officers said when they searched through their rickety backpacks. However, what they found were completely tangled electrical cables, old phone chargers and dirty clothes, all found in the trash.

“Get out, come on! “You have nothing to do there!” The officers said as they let them go.

The journey continued. Once again, the soldiers noticed that, as they passed, homeless people were sleeping on cardboard boxes, smoking and smoking from garbage, but they did not stop and prioritized finding a possible terrorist in preparation for a criminal act.

A few minutes later, a suspicious group gathered on a public road dispersed upon seeing the presence of the officers. It didn’t take long for them to pick up their weapons and chase them through the streets.. After managing to arrest them all, they proceeded with a more intensive body search, as suspicion was high.

“Why did you run away?” They asked a man in his 30s when they searched him and lifted his shirt to see his tattoos. In the design, there were no wolf faces, tiger claws, or any other symbols that Ecuadorian gang members typically carry. In contrast, the young man wore a modest “Martha” at the base of his neck.

Amid grumbles, the man tried to give incomprehensible explanations that didn’t help him escape the handcuffs. However, around 3 a.m., at the end of the patrol, officers believed he had learned his lesson and left him barefoot on the side of the road.

“Today we have carried out various security operations with fixed points and mobile patrols in this sector of Pasquales. 25 vehicles were impounded and around thirty people were arrested. Tonight was mainly to arrest curfew violators. No gang members have been arrested.“, Captain Carlos Genfe of the Fifth Infantry Brigade reported while giving the balance of the night.

However, no one knows what the next day holds.

(With information from AFP)