Ecuadorian President authorized the possession and carrying of weapons for civilian use for personal defense, to combat wave of insecurity

Havana, April 2 (RHC) Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso authorized the possession and carrying of weapons for civilian use for personal defense, as part of the measures to combat the wave of insecurity plaguing the South American country.

As part of these measures, Lasso declared a state of emergency in various areas of the provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos and Santa Elena plagued by drug trafficking and insecurity. He announced that the state of emergency will come into force as of this Sunday, April 2, and that it will include a curfew between 01:00 and 05:00 (local time).

The measure also allows the mobilization of the military in zone 8, which includes the cities of Guayaquil, Durán and Samborondón, in the province of Guayas.

During 2022, President Lasso decreed a state of emergency three times for Guayaquil and other cities to deal with the high rates of crime and insecurity.

The new measures to combat insecurity in Ecuador follow the attack with explosives on a security guard, the murder of two hospital directors, attacks on banks and the murder of businessman Rubén Cherres, allegedly linked to the Albanian mafia. (Source: Telesur)