Brazilian police available to help combat violence in Ecuador

NIn an interview with the EFE news agency, Andrei Rodrigues, also executive secretary of the American Police Association (Ameripol), offered the support of the organization and the Brazilian representation at Interpol.

Rodrigues said that the idea is to achieve “a great environment of cooperation” on the American continent, where the exchange of information and intelligence work are the initial basis of support, instead of sending personnel or weapons to the country.

“Much more than weapons and ammunition, intelligence is important,” said the leader.

The PF leader recalled that, as Brazil does not have a border with Ecuador, he called on police attachés in Colombia and Peru “to monitor [a situação] and closely monitor all movements in the region and possible impacts” for Brazil.

Since October, Rodrigues also revealed, an Ecuadorian police officer has been stationed at the Center for International Police Cooperation, in Rio de Janeiro.

The Ecuador agent “is working together with our team and with [representantes de] other countries in the region, which also allows us to exchange information fluidly”, he stated.

On Tuesday, Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said she was available to send members of the “security forces, if necessary, to help” Ecuador on a “continental issue.”

Meanwhile, the Government of Peru imposed a state of emergency on Wednesday along the entire 1,500-kilometer border with Ecuador and sent the armed forces to monitor the area together with the police.

The head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador, Jaime Vela, announced on Wednesday that the operations carried out the previous day resulted in the arrest of “329 terrorists” and the death of five.

At a press conference, Vela said that no soldiers were injured or killed, although two police officers were killed and one seriously injured.

The leader announced that authorities managed to capture 28 inmates who had escaped and free 41 guards and employees kidnapped during riots in five prisons in Ecuador on Monday.

Vela indicated that there are still 139 people held captive in the country’s prisons.

The military man said authorities formed an “elite group” to look for José Adolfo Macías, known as ‘Fito’ and leader of the organized crime group ‘Los Choneros’, whose escape from prison triggered the wave of violence.

On Tuesday, Ecuador experienced a day of terror that resulted in at least ten deaths in various violent acts, such as the temporary takeover of a television channel by an armed group, cars being set on fire and threats against universities, state institutions and companies.

The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, declared a state of “internal armed conflict”.

Read Also: Mercosur “strongly condemns” organized crime violence in Ecuador