Ecuador's Curfew Ends May 18 as Planned — Interior Minister Confirms No Extension, With Over 2,000 Already Detained

After nearly two weeks of nighttime restrictions, expats living in Ecuador have a date they can plan around: May 18, 2026 — the day the current curfew is scheduled to end. And according to the Interior Minister, that date is not changing.

The Confirmation

Interior Minister John Reimberg told reporters today: "El toque de queda no se va a extender. No hay ningún cambio." ("The curfew will not be extended. There is no change.")

The current restriction has been in effect from May 3 through May 18, 2026, running from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM nightly across the country.

What's Been Happening During the Curfew

Two ministries — Interior and Defense — released operational data covering May 3-12, 2026. The combined figures show a substantial law enforcement push:

| Category | Reported | |----------|----------| | Weapons seized | 331 total (265 firearms + bladed weapons via Interior; 66 lethal weapons via Defense) | | People detained | 2,038 (Interior) / 2,223 (combined) | | Linked to criminal organizations | 487 | | Curfew violations | 1,281 | | Drugs seized | 134.80 kg | | Vehicles recovered | 31 | | Motorcycles recovered | 55 | | Fuel tanker trucks | 6 | | Explosive devices | 11 | | Ammunition rounds | 424 | | Operating provinces | 9 provinces and 4 cantones |

Of those detained, 17 individuals were classified as "high-priority criminal interests" and over 750 were arrested for unrelated crimes.

What This Means for Expats

If you've been adjusting your evening errands, social plans, or rideshare patterns to the 11 PM cutoff, you can confidently mark Monday, May 18 as the return-to-normal date. A few practical notes:

• The first night without the curfew will be the night of May 18 into May 19. Late dinners, evening drives, and after-hours business meetings should resume.
• Don't assume looser enforcement on the last few nights. Operations are still ongoing — 2,000+ detentions in ten days is not a wind-down.
• The 78 individuals who received preventive detention (versus 302 with alternative measures) suggests prosecutors are pursuing the more serious cases through the courts. Expect those proceedings to continue past May 18.

A Note on the Province Most Affected

Sucumbíos was specifically mentioned in the curfew enforcement context — a province bordering Colombia that has been the focus of much of Ecuador's recent security policy. If your travel or business takes you near the northern border, expect a continued elevated security presence even after the nationwide curfew ends.

What to Watch

• Whether the government announces follow-on security measures targeting the specific provinces with highest violence rates after May 18
• Any unexpected extension declaration in the final days — Minister Reimberg's quote was firm, but Ecuador has reversed course on security policy before
• The June 11, 2026 deadline for various criminal investigations tied to this enforcement push

Sources: El Universo, Primicias