The Ecuadorian Presidency has identified and released two lists of leaders of criminal groups considered “military objectives” by the country’s security axis. The lists include leaders of both local and international organizations.
One of the lists released by the Government includes two leaders of transnational criminal groups as military objectives. Ismael Mario Zambada García, also known as “El Mayo,” associated with the Sinaloa Cartel, and Geovanny Andrés Rojas, alias “Araña,” linked to the FARC dissident group Border Commands.
The lists also feature Adolfo Macías, alias “Fito,” a leader of the Los Fatales gang, considered the armed wing of the Los Choneros gang at the local level.
President Daniel Noboa has declared a state of internal conflict in the country and ordered to “neutralize” these groups through military operations, under international humanitarian law and respecting human rights.
In a separate list, the Police and Armed Forces have identified 74 individuals allegedly associated with eight organized crime gangs operating in Ecuador, classified as “terrorists” by President Noboa in January.
President Noboa stated that the Government would disclose the names and faces of these criminal group leaders, highlighting the need to clearly identify the organizational schemes of criminal groups receiving foreign support.
These lists were released just two days before a popular consultation and referendum scheduled for Sunday, proposing reforms in security and the fight against organized crime. CNN has reached out to the Ministry of Communication and the Police for more details and is awaiting a response.