Andean countries create first border security network due to drug violence in Ecuador
Lima (AFP)- Following the expansion of drug trafficking violence in Ecuador, the Andean country took a step forward in the fight against drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime, announcing this Sunday the first cross-border security network against transnational gangs of.
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The Andean Security Network will operate “24 hours a day, 7 days a week” from the first quarter of this year, according to an agreement signed by the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) at the end of an extraordinary meeting of ministers. Lima.
States that cooperation and intelligence bodies will “provide and receive information on the activity of criminal groups from other countries (…) that carry out or may carry out international operations,” noting the commitment of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Indicates.
Similarly, it will “promptly raise awareness” about relevant acts committed by these organizations, even if “they are committed within the same participating country.”
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld welcomed the agreement, highlighting that it counters the “fear” that has gripped the countries in the fight against organized crime.
“We have made history, we have written a new chapter in Cannes,” Quito’s diplomacy chief said jubilantly.
The official commented, “Fear has paralyzed countries. We have seen that fear of civil society has paralyzed Ecuador, crippling investment, increasing unemployment and migration.”
– “No country is safe” –
Ecuador, embroiled in its worst security crisis ever, with hundreds of deaths, prison riots and explosive attacks, has been facing the challenge of some twenty drug trafficking groups for some time.
The government of the young Ecuadorian President, Daniel Noboa (36 years old), declared open war on these organizations and deployed military forces to stop the onslaught of the gangs, who practically took control of the prisons, giving them control over their operations. Turned into the center.
Just this Sunday, authorities arrested 68 alleged gunmen from an organization that had unsuccessfully tried to take over a hospital to save one of their members, who was admitted injured at the scene.
As a result of the violence in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia increased surveillance on their borders with Ecuador, to prevent the eventual entry of gang members trying to flee military and police harassment.
At the beginning of this Sunday’s meeting, the Peruvian government encouraged its partners to take stronger action against organized crime.
Peru’s Chief of Staff, Alberto Ottarola, said, “This reality forces us to work in coordination. No country is safe if a neighbor suffers the insane attacks of these groups. We will face this problem forcefully. should go.”
President Dina Bolwart attended the opening of the meeting which brought together the Foreign Ministers of Peru and Ecuador as well as the Ministers of the Government of Bolivia and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Colombia.
Illegal mining, in the crosshairs
Located between Colombia and Peru, the world’s largest producer of cocaine, Ecuador managed to remain free from the violence of drug trafficking for decades, but gangs have turned the area into an operations and logistics center for the transportation and storage of cocaine. Changed to. of cocaine, mainly from Europe.
Over the past five years, the murder rate in Ecuador has increased from 6 per 100,000 inhabitants to 46 in 2023. From prisons, drug networks have spread terror on the streets and ports.
“Organized international crime now attacks the democracy and internal order of all our countries. This requires joint action among CAN countries,” Boluaert said.
In addition to the Andean Security Network, CAN announced coordinated police or military action in the “shortest possible time” against “transnational crimes”.
In this sense, it plans to carry out, in the first quarter of the year, “a joint and coordinated campaign against illegal mining, with an emphasis on border areas, due to its connection with the financing of organized criminal groups,” Lima reads. Is the announcement.
The emergency meeting in Lima was attended by Peru’s Foreign Minister, Javier González-Olechea; Ecuador’s Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld; Bolivian government minister, Carlos Eduardo del Castillo, and Colombian Vice-Chancellor, Francisco Coy
The Colombian representative commented, “The security difficulties that Ecuador is facing are not just for Ecuador, they are for the entire region. This is a phenomenon that is attacking everyone.”
© 2024 AFP