Ecuador Deploys 75,000 Soldiers and Police to Combat Drug Gangs

By INGLOBE Magazine News Desk | March 2026

The government of Ecuador has launched a massive security operation after it deployed 75,000 soldiers and police to combat drug gangs across four of the country's most violence-affected provinces. The move marks a new phase in President Daniel Noboa’s ongoing campaign against organized crime and narcotics trafficking.

Ecuador’s Interior Minister John Reimberg announced the operation while addressing residents in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Los Ríos and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas. Authorities have also introduced a night-time curfew in these regions in an attempt to reduce violence linked to powerful criminal gangs.

Ecuador Deploys 75,000 Soldiers Drug Gangs Operation

The large-scale deployment comes as Ecuador continues to struggle with escalating crime rates driven largely by international drug trafficking networks. Government officials say the security operation aims to dismantle gang structures and restore stability in areas heavily affected by cartel activity.

“We’re at war,” Interior Minister Reimberg told local residents, urging them to remain indoors during curfew hours and avoid unnecessary travel while security forces conduct operations.

Since taking office in November 2023, President Daniel Noboa has implemented several states of emergency and aggressive security policies to counter gang violence. Despite these measures, Ecuador recorded a record murder rate in 2025.

Drug Trafficking Turning Ecuador into Key Transit Hub

Ecuador’s strategic location between Colombia and Peru — the world’s largest producers of cocaine — has made the country a critical transit point for the global drug trade. Analysts estimate that roughly 70% of the cocaine produced in those countries passes through Ecuador before reaching international markets.

To combat this growing threat, the Ecuadorian government has strengthened international cooperation, particularly with the United States. According to reports from the FBI, the agency recently opened its first office in Ecuador to assist with counter-narcotics operations.

Joint security initiatives between Ecuador and the United States aim to disrupt drug trafficking routes and weaken criminal organizations operating in the region.

International Efforts to Fight Criminal Cartels

President Noboa has also joined a US-led alliance of 17 countries focused on combating organized crime across the Western Hemisphere. The initiative, sometimes referred to as the “Shield of the Americas,” brings together governments working to dismantle drug cartels and transnational gangs.

During a summit hosted by US President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, regional leaders discussed strategies for using military and intelligence resources to fight organized crime.

Despite Ecuador’s aggressive crackdown, criminal organizations remain deeply entrenched. Between 2024 and 2025, the country’s homicide rate rose by more than 30%, highlighting the scale of the security challenge facing the government.

Officials say the latest deployment of troops and police represents one of the largest domestic security operations in Ecuador’s history and signals a long-term commitment to tackling drug-related violence.