The president of Ecuador, Guillermo Lasso, reported on Wednesday that more than 50 people have been arrested to be brought to justice accused of participating in the violent acts that have taken place in recent days in the Ecuadorian provinces of Guayas and Esmeraldas.
In a speech to the population of Ecuador on national television, the Ecuadorian president detailed that «53 delinquents» will be brought to justice so that «they pay for their misdeeds», as reported by ‘El Telegrafo’.
The arrest of these dozens of people is part of an operation carried out by the Ecuadorian government to reduce violence in Guayas and Esmeraldas in prisons and on the streets.
«Yesterday (Tuesday) we were deliberately attacked by sabotage and terrorist attacks orchestrated by drug criminals. These attacks sought to generate fear and chaos, but they have not succeeded», said Lasso, as reported by the newspaper ‘El Universo’.
«Let the drug criminals know that our hand will not tremble. And let them know that those who are on the side of the criminals will be repudiated by all Ecuadorians,» he said.
Ecuador was on Tuesday the scene of a series of violent acts in the provinces of Guayas and Esmeraldas, both in the north, which have resulted in at least five police officers dead and for which about thirty suspects have already been arrested.
Following the violent day, Lasso announced the suspension of a visit to the United States and declared a state of emergency in both provinces, implementing a curfew which will be in force for the next 45 days.
