According to the balance released on Monday, police and military operations led to the seizure of 575 firearms, 560 bladed weapons, a dozen magazines, over 13,000 bullets and 478 explosives. Likewise, law enforcement forces seized over 5.6 tons of drugs. In sum, they have launched more than 15,000 operations and 41 actions against criminal groups, now classified as terrorists.

The Executive informed that during this week the army and the police will continue to be deployed across the national territory with a clear goal: “to be implacable with those who have terrorized and taken advantage of citizens”.

The “internal armed conflict” was declared by Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, last Tuesday ahead of a wave of attacks and violent actions attributed to organized crime, which included the kidnapping and murder of police officers, explosions, prison riots, among others.

On Monday, Minister of Defense Giancarlo Loffredo, the Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces Jaime Vela, and other members of the military leadership presented to the National Assembly – Parliament a report on the operations’ results.

Although the meeting was reserved, after the encounter some parliamentarians expressed concerns about the financing that the Government will have to obtain to support these actions.

The Executive’s proposal to go up from 12% to 15% the Value Added Tax suggested by Noboa does not have support in the legislature, since the Citizen Revolution and the Social Christian Party have already pronounced themselves against the measure.

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