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Ecuador’s police say violent deaths have fallen 11 percent so far in 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, with the reported homicide rate moving from 25.5 to 22.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Ecuador’s Constitutional Court issued a favorable opinion on the state of exception declared by President Daniel Noboa. The measure validates Executive Decree 423, signed June 16, for 60 days.
Police and prosecutors detained Jipijapa Mayor Angela Plua and 12 others in Operation Digitador, an investigation into alleged irregular vehicle paperwork in Manabi. Authorities said the case involved 18 raids and suspected losses above $5 million.
Ecuador and the United States signed a border-security implementation letter on June 22 to coordinate against transnational crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and other border-zone threats.
Ecuadorian authorities say five people were detained in an alleged migrant-trafficking network that operated in Guayas and Tungurahua. The case involves current and former Migration officials, real passports used with substituted identities, and alleged illegal fees of $5,000 to $8,000.
President Daniel Noboa issued Executive Decree 424 on June 18, opening a path for allied foreign military personnel to support Ecuador’s security operations. Officials say foreign troops are not expected immediately, while 13,000 Ecuadorian military personnel are being deployed to Guayas, Manabí, El Oro and Los Ríos.
A tribunal convicted six defendants in the Decevale case and ordered a $693 million repair payment to Isspol, the police social security institute. The case grew out of alleged irregularities in securities-market operations involving Decevale S.A., Citadel Casa de Valores and Isspol funds.
Guayaquil airport officials said the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo terminal remained operational for domestic and international flights after a June 17 shooting outside the airport. Access was temporarily restricted while police worked the scene, but authorities said passengers inside the building were safe.
Ecuador’s new state of exception applies for 60 days in ten provinces and three cantons. There is no curfew for now, but the decree allows temporary limits on home and correspondence protections while security forces operate in the covered areas.
Ronald Javier Macias Villamar, known as alias Javi and identified as the brother of Los Choneros leader alias Fito, was captured in Colombia. Ecuadorian officials say the operation involved the National Police, Armed Forces, National Intelligence Center and Colombian authorities.
A frontal crash between a pickup truck and a cargo truck near the Zapotal bridge left 12 people dead on June 14. ECU 911 said the crash happened at about 04:14 on the Guayaquil-Santa Elena highway.
Authorities detained 16 people on San Cristobal after an operation near the Muelle de los Marinos. Police reported the seizure of boats, outboard motors, mobile phones and electronic devices in a fuel-trafficking investigation.
