Ecuador says homicides fell 28% in March amid localized curfew

QUITO, April 1 (Reuters) - ‌Ecuador's government ​said ​on Wednesday that intentional homicides fell 28% nationwide in March, attributing ‌the decline to military operations carried out ⁠during a two-week nightly curfew in four provinces.

President ‌Daniel Noboa declared the ‌curfew in the provinces of Guayas, Los Rios, El Oro and Santo Domingo — ​which authorities describe as key drug trafficking corridors — intensifying security force operations in ⁠those areas.

• The 28% decline compares March 2025 with March ​2026, Interior Minister John Reimberg said.

• About 4,300 people were arrested during ​the operations against crime, including a ‌ringleader, Reimberg said.

• "Control is not negotiated, it is exercised. And we ⁠will not stop. Ecuador is regaining control," said Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo.

• The Ecuadorian ⁠government claims that operations against crime in the ​country, which were supported by the United States, targeted four criminal groups, including Los Lobos, a gang ‌that was designated as a terrorist group by Washington last year.

• ‌Ecuador recorded around 9,200 violent deaths in ⁠2025, a 31% ‌increase over the ​prior year, according to official data.

(Reporting by Alejandra Valencia; Editing by Iñigo ‌Alexander)

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