Ecuador declares new 60-day state of emergency as cartel violence kills 879 in 6 weeks

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a new 60-day state of emergency across 10 of the country's 24 provinces on Tuesday, responding to a bloody surge in drug cartel violence. The security decree, which may be extended for an additional 30 days, represents the latest in a series of emergency measures deployed by Noboa since he took office in November 2023.

Homicide surge

According to official figures, the covered territories suffered 879 homicides between May 1 and June 12, 2026, underlining a severe and sustained deterioration of public order. The geographic scope of the decree maps out Ecuador's primary narcotics trafficking corridors, stretching from the northern border to the Pacific coast.

Targeted provinces

The measure encompasses Guayas, Manabí, Santa Elena, Los Ríos, El Oro, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Sucumbíos, and Azuay. The targeted zones trace the lucrative routes used by gangs to move cocaine from laboratories through Ecuador's deep-water ports toward markets in Europe and the US.

Sweeping provisions

The decree immediately suspends the inviolability of the home, granting police and armed forces authority to enter and search private residences without a judicial warrant if there is reasonable suspicion of organized crime activity. The announcement marks a U-turn from Noboa's assurance last month that he would not renew expiring emergency powers.