Full Breakdown
U.S. Troops Join Ecuadorian Raid on CJNG-Linked Drug Network
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Joint Anti-Cartel Operation
On September 24, 2026, Ecuadorian police conducted a coordinated nighttime raid across several southwestern cities—including Guayaquil, Daule, Samborondón, Ventanas, Babahoyo, Puebloviejo, Vinces and Machala. The operation was carried out with the participation of 50 U.S. Southern Command soldiers and the Drug Enforcement Administration, alongside more than 320 Ecuadorian police officers. Authorities said the raids resulted in the arrest of more than 30 suspects, including leaders and financiers tied to a local branch of Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Operation Scope and Financial Impact
Interior Minister John Reimberg described the network as handling large-scale cocaine shipments from Colombia through the ports of Guayaquil and Machala to Central America, the United States and Europe. He noted that earlier seizures this year inflicted an estimated $322 million financial blow on the organization.
Official Statements & Responses
- President Daniel Noboa dismissed criticism of the security campaign, saying, “We receive plenty of criticism regarding the fight against organized crime and very little concern about the number of victims we are seeing from organized crime.”
Human-Rights Concerns
Human-rights organizations have warned that Ecuador’s intensified security offensive risks excessive force, torture and enforced disappearances. While the administration has not detailed specific incidents, the criticism underscores tension between aggressive anti-drug measures and civil-rights safeguards.
Impact and Outlook
Ecuador’s government, seeking daily U.S. assistance to combat an estimated $30 billion annual cocaine trade, views the raid as a significant step in dismantling CJNG’s regional foothold. The operation follows a two-week curfew on the Pacific lowlands that remains in effect for the remainder of the month, and reflects an expanding U.S. military presence in the country.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We receive plenty of criticism regarding the fight against organized crime and very little concern about the number of victims we are seeing from organized crime,” — Daniel Noboa, right-wing president
- “It’s a joint operation with North American troops and National Police working here on the ground,” — John Reimberg, ecuadoran interior minister
- “This organization has no links to local gangs. It had a direct relationship with the CJNG,” — John Reimberg, ecuadoran interior minister