U.S. forces assist Ecuador in arresting over 30 members of Mexican cartel cell

In a joint effort with U.S. troops and the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ecuadorian forces captured more than 30 individuals alleged to belong to a local branch of Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The raids, carried out by roughly 320 Ecuadorian police officers and 50 U.S. Southern Command personnel, targeted a network that transports cocaine from Colombia via southwestern Ecuadorian ports to international markets.

Interior Minister John Reimberg shared visual evidence of the arrests on social media. Human-rights groups have warned about excessive force in Ecuador's broader anti-crime campaign, but President Daniel Noboa brushed off such concerns during a speech to the United Nations. The operation underscores Quito's alignment with U.S. policies aimed at curbing organized crime throughout Latin America.