Its new president EquatorialDaniel Noboa, proceeded to repeal a measure that allowed since 2013 the possession of small quantities drugsexplaining that the purpose of the decision is to suppress “micro-trafficking” in this way.
According to a statement, the youngest head of state, who was elected in mid-October and sworn in last Thursday, assuming power at the age of 35, instructed the interior ministry on Friday to end the current practice.
It was a measure taken by former president Rafael Correa (2007-2017) to help the police focus on traffickers rather than ordinary drug users.
Mr Noboa, who describes himself as centre-left but is backed by right-wing forces, heir to his father’s banana tycoon business empire, had pledged during the campaign to repeal this rule, stressing that it “encourages micro-trafficking in school and breeds a whole generation of addicts children”.
For decades, Ecuador was considered an oasis of safety even though it is located between Colombia and Peru, the countries with the largest cocaine production in the world. Eventually, however, the violence spilled over the border and has now become gangrenous in the country of 18 million, largely due to gang conflicts linked to Colombian and Mexican cartels.
Between 2018 and 2022 the homicide rate quadrupled to an all-time high of 26 per 100,000 residents, and the trend remains upward.
In the face of this explosion of violence, Mr. Noboa promised in his election campaign to implement emergency measures, suspending some fundamental rights, such as freedom of movement, when he deems it necessary and deploying the army inside the country.
Source: News Beast
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