Ecuador celebrates a significant milestone as homicide rates drop by 19% this year, signaling progress in the fight against organized crime. Under President Daniel Noboa’s leadership, intentional homicides have decreased by 23%, with a reduction of 1,279 incidents compared to the previous year. One standout success story is Manta, a coastal city in Manabí, where intentional homicides have plummeted by an impressive 66% since military governance was implemented on June 6.
As the nation grapples with escalating violence from drug trafficking gangs, seven provinces and one canton have been placed under a state of emergency since May 22. President Noboa’s declaration of an “internal armed conflict” against 22 criminal gangs earlier in the year underscores Ecuador’s broader struggle against organized crime.
Background
In 2023, Ecuador surpassed Venezuela as the Latin American country with the highest murder rate, with a record high of 25.7 intentional homicides per 100,000 people. By September, this rate had surged to 42.8, exceeding rates in Venezuela and Honduras.