‘We have made the decision’ – Ecuadorian troops improve security at Duran’s educational institutions amid increasing gang threats

“The Ecuadorian Armed Forces have increased security outside educational institutions in the suburb of Duran, a coastal city in the province of Guayas, in response to increasing threats from drug trafficking and other criminal gangs. Footage captured on Tuesday showed military personnel patrolling near the Santiago Redwood School, with soldiers visibly armed and stationed outside the facility. Parents were seen escorting their children to school under the watchful eye of these armed officers. “We are conducting operations to control ammunition, weapons and explosives near the Santiago Wood educational unit,” a member of the military said. “Duran is a high-risk canton. We have decided as Armed Forces to strengthen the security of staff, children and parents who work and live near this area.” The threat of violence has reached alarming levels, as the region has been plagued by bomb threats targeting several schools for several months, causing widespread concern. In response, military authorities have increased their presence in the area and have carried out extensive operations to secure ammunition, weapons and explosives, with the aim of protecting both students and staff. In 2023, it was reported that Duran was the city with the highest murder rate in the world, with an increase from 3.8 to 148 registered cases per 100,000 inhabitants between 2017 and 2023. Drug trafficking gangs are said to be active in the region 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 repression comes in the run-up to Ecuador’s general elections in 2025.”