‘Hideaways for criminal activities’ – Ecuadorian troops demolish homes ‘used by drug gangs’ in Duran suburb

“Buildings in the suburb of Duran that were allegedly used by local drug trafficking groups were demolished on Tuesday in a large-scale operation carried out by Ecuadorian police and armed forces. Footage shows personnel arriving at the scene and excavators demolishing the homes, which were allegedly used as ‘hiding places for criminal activity’. “Right now we are in Duran, in Fincas Delia. As ordered by the president, we are removing these structures that are not intended for housing and are being used for criminal purposes,” said Secretary for Settlement Prevention Evelyn Montalvan, adding that “this operation will be carried out throughout the country.” Local police captain Javier Eduardo reported that around 30 homes “will be recovered,” adding that the military made sure there were “no people inside” the structures before starting the operation. “The National Police, together with its different preventive branches, the Armed Forces and the Technical Secretariat of Settlements, are carrying out police operations in the La Delia sector to ensure the safety of personnel in the area and to reclaim these spaces for the community, with the aim of restoring the well-being of the sector,” he added. In 2023, it was reported that Duran was the city with the highest homicide rate in the world, with an increase from 3.8 to 148 registered cases per 100,000 inhabitants between 2017 and 2023. Drug trafficking It is said that gangs are active in the district due to its proximity to the ports of Guayaquil and Posorja. In January, President Daniel Noboa declared an “internal armed conflict” against 22 criminal gangs and declared a state of emergency, deploying the army across the country. The crackdown comes ahead of Ecuador’s general elections in 2025.”