The Ecuadorian government has reinstated a nightly curfew and launched nationwide police-military operations to combat organized crime, kidnapping, and extortion [1].
These measures represent a significant escalation in the administration's effort to regain control over urban centers. The surge in violent crime has destabilized several provinces, forcing the state to rely on the Armed Forces to support the National Police in maintaining public order.
President Daniel Noboa is leading the security offensive, which includes the deployment of joint task forces in Guayaquil and Samborondón [2, 3]. In Samborondón, additional police officers have been assigned to reinforce security on access roads to prevent the movement of criminal elements [3].
The government is utilizing a strategy of high-frequency raids to dismantle gang infrastructure. Between April 13 and April 19, 2026, authorities executed 35 joint operations [4]. These specific raids resulted in the arrest of 93 people [4].
Beyond arrests, the operations have focused on the recovery of victims of organized crime. During the same one-week period in April, security forces released three people who had been kidnapped [4].
The reinstatement of the curfew serves as a restrictive tool to limit the mobility of gangs during nighttime hours [1]. By restricting movement, the government aims to reduce the frequency of nighttime kidnappings and the operational capacity of extortion rings that target local businesses.
While the military and police continue to coordinate these efforts, the scale of the security crisis remains a primary challenge for the Noboa administration. The government continues to integrate military logistics into police patrolling to ensure a more comprehensive operational coverage across the country [2, 3].
“The Ecuadorian government has reinstated a nightly curfew and launched nationwide police-military operations”
The return to curfews and the reliance on military intervention indicate that the Ecuadorian state is struggling to contain organized crime through standard policing alone. By prioritizing territorial control and high-volume arrests, the government is attempting to disrupt the logistical networks of gangs, though the long-term efficacy of these tactical raids depends on whether they are paired with systemic judicial reforms.
