Ecuador: Military begins operations at country's borders and in the city of Guayaquil as of late Jan. 23

Event

Ecuador's armed forces began patrolling the nation's border and deployed to the city of Guayaquil to conduct anti-crime operations late Jan. 23. Some 1,100 police officers have also been sent to Guayaquil to work with the military. Security personnel may set up checkpoints and question persons crossing the border as well as those transiting the streets of Guayaquil. Military searches of cargo crossing Ecuador's land borders or arriving at or departing from the Port of Guayaquil are also likely.

Context

President Guillermo Lasso ordered the police and military operations during an announcement in which he said he would introduce a new bill in the legislature that would, among other things, loosen the restrictions on the use of force by police and military personnel and pay for their legal defense if they are accused of wrongdoing. The measures are part of Lasso's response to gang violence and drug trafficking in the country. Over the past year, repeated riots staged by rival gang members in a penitentiary in Guayaquil have left hundreds of prisoners dead, highlighting the power of criminal organizations operating in the prisons.