Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has imposed a nighttime curfew in four coastal provinces starting March 15 to support joint military operations backed by the United States. The curfew — in Guayas, El Oro, Santo Domingo and Los Rios — runs from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Officials reported a recent operation near the Colombian border destroyed a drug-trafficking camp run by the "Border Commandos," a group of FARC dissidents. Noboa has emphasized a hardline approach to organized crime and has criticized Colombia while imposing tariffs on some imports.
Ecuador Imposes Nighttime Curfew in Four Coastal Provinces to Back Joint Security Operations
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa delivers a speech during the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean 2026, in Panama City, Panama, January 28, 2026. REUTERS/Aris Martinez
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa has ordered a nighttime curfew in four coastal provinces beginning March 15 to facilitate joint military operations against drug-trafficking networks with backing from the United States.
The curfew covers the provinces of Guayas, El Oro, Santo Domingo and Los Rios, running nightly from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. local time. Authorities say these areas form key trafficking corridors along Ecuador’s Pacific coast.
Recent Operations
Joint Ecuador–U.S. military operations began in early March. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense reported that a recent mission near the Colombian border destroyed a drug-trafficking camp reportedly run by a group known as the "Border Commandos", composed of FARC dissidents. The ministry said the site could house about 50 people.
Government Rationale and Wider Context
The Noboa administration has prioritized a hardline security approach against organized crime, framing the curfew and intensified operations as measures to disrupt trafficking routes and criminal groups that have expanded along coastal and border areas. President Noboa has also publicly criticized Colombia’s government for what he says is inadequate action against trafficking and has imposed tariffs on some Colombian imports as part of his broader pressure strategy.
Officials say the curfew is a temporary measure intended to create security conditions for targeted operations; details on duration beyond the announced start date were not provided.
The government’s actions underscore growing regional cooperation — and tensions — as Ecuador seeks to rein in violence and narco-trafficking that increasingly spills across borders.
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