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• 1 min de lectura
Over a thousand military personnel and police officers launched a large-scale operation in Puerto Bolívar, an urban parish of Machala considered one of the country's most conflict-ridden areas due to the presence of organizations linked to drug trafficking and organized crime. The operation includes interventions by land, air, and sea, with the aim of recovering territorial control of this strategic zone for El Oro's maritime and commercial activities.
For four days, law enforcement will sweep through dozens of blocks and conduct raids on over a thousand homes, many of which are allegedly used by criminal organizations for illicit activities and drug trafficking routes. According to authorities, several houses were reportedly taken over by criminal groups who even built internal connections and direct access to the sea to facilitate clandestine operations.
The government stated that the intervention will have two phases: the first focused on recovering control and strengthening security in Puerto Bolívar, and the second aimed at returning properties to their legitimate owners or demolishing structures used as criminal operation centers. Authorities also announced permanent vessel controls and maritime censuses to prevent the area from being used again by criminal organizations.
Source: Ecuavisa
