Once again, the Azuay Governor’s Office is promising constant security checks along the Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme highway after yet another robbery.

What Happened This Time?

This latest incident happened at kilometer 90 of the highway, where a van was attacked. Governor Santiago Malo has announced plans to activate permanent operations and boost security measures through CAMEX patrols. He acknowledged, “What’s happening on this highway is really concerning. The other routes are under control, but this one worries us.”

The governor also mentioned that the robbery is under investigation. He reassured the public that the victims received immediate assistance and emphasized that the police have been instructed to act swiftly in such cases moving forward.

Interestingly, this robbery took place while the van was heading toward Guayaquil, which is a change from past incidents, where attacks usually happened on vehicles traveling from Guayaquil to Cuenca.

Driver’s Frightening Experience

The van driver shared his ordeal with Diario El Mercurio. While driving along kilometer 90, a car suddenly blocked the road. Passengers quickly told him not to stop, fearing it could be a trap. “I thought that if I stopped, they’d think I was part of the criminals,” the driver said.

When he chose to accelerate instead, the attackers opened fire, injuring him. Despite being wounded, he managed to drive to the Hierba Buena area, where he received medical attention.

The driver revealed that the lack of cell signal at kilometer 90 makes the spot a favorite for robbers. “There’s no service in that area, so they take advantage of it to attack vehicles. We’re easy targets,” he said.

Luckily, the bullet only grazed his lung, and he’s now in stable condition. But he’s hoping authorities will take real action to protect drivers like him in the future.

Source: El Mercurio.

The Ecuadorian government has declared a new state of exception lasting 60 days, including measures such as curfews and mobility restrictions. This decree, signed on January 2, 2025, by President Noboa, marks an expansion of the previous state of exception implemented in 2024. For the first time, it includes the province of Sucumbíos at the border with Colombia and the coastal canton of La Troncal in the province of Cañar.

Key Details of the State of Emergency

The state of emergency is outlined in Executive Decree 493. It applies to:

• The provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Orellana, Santa Elena, El Oro, and Sucumbíos.

• The Metropolitan District of Quito (province of Pichincha), and the cantons of La Troncal (province of Cañar) and Camilo Ponce Enríquez (province of Azuay).

The government cites the "prolonged presence of organized armed groups" as the primary reason for this measure.

Restrictions Imposed

1. Suspension of Rights:

   • Inviolability of Domicile: Suspended in the seven provinces, the Metropolitan District of Quito, and the cantons of Camilo Ponce Enríquez and La Troncal.

   • Inviolability of Correspondence: Suspended in the same areas.

2. Curfew:

   • Imposed from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM daily in 22 cantons (details below).

   • The Metropolitan District of Quito is not included in the curfew measures.

3. Deployment of Security Forces:

   • The police and armed forces will mobilize to enforce the measures.

   • The military will continue to oversee the country’s prisons under regulated and temporary supervision.

Unlike previous decrees, the current one does not suspend the right to freedom of assembly, but the military presence will be maintained in critical areas.

Cantons with Curfews

Residents in the following cantons must adhere to the nightly curfew for the next 60 days. Those who fail to comply will face legal consequences:

• Azuay: Camilo Ponce Enríquez

• Cañar: La Troncal

• Guayas: Durán, Balao, and the parish of Tenguel

• Los Ríos: Babahoyo, Buena Fe, Quevedo, Pueblo Viejo, Vinces, Valencia, Ventanas, Mocache, Urdaneta, Baba, Palenque, Quinsaloma, Montalvo

• Orellana: La Joya de los Sachas, Puerto Francisco de Orellana, Loreto

• Sucumbíos: Shushufindi, Lago Agrio

Source: Primicias.

A troubling incident in Cuenca highlights the risks of online dating apps like Tinder. A local young man, Pedro Tenorio, shared his experience of being drugged, assaulted, and robbed after meeting someone through the app. His story sheds light on a growing trend involving scopolamine, a powerful drug used to incapacitate victims.

The incident

On November 29, Tenorio arranged to meet a woman he had been chatting with on Tinder. The meeting took place at a mall in Cuenca, but he quickly noticed discrepancies. "Her appearance didn’t match her photos," Tenorio said, admitting he ignored this red flag.

After a brief conversation, the woman insisted they go to a park instead of a restaurant or bar. While there, a man claiming to be her brother arrived in a black car. The pair offered Tenorio a drink, and shortly after consuming it, he lost consciousness.

The aftermath

Tenorio woke up hours later, injured and disoriented. A taxi driver found him walking along a street in Cuenca, bloodied and crying. He had been beaten and robbed of his laptop, phone, wallet, and $500 in cash, including his recent paycheck.

Growing Concerns

This incident isn’t isolated. Similar cases have been reported in Cuenca and other regions. Scopolamine, often referred to as "devil’s breath," is commonly used in such scams in Colombia and is now appearing in Ecuador. Mixed with alcohol, the drug can erase memory and render victims compliant, making them easy targets.

Safety Measures

Authorities and experts urge both locals and tourists to exercise caution when meeting strangers from dating apps:

• Verify profiles carefully: Even verified accounts can be fake due to advanced AI technologies.

• Meet in public places: Avoid isolated locations or private areas.

• Avoid accepting drinks: Only consume drinks you’ve seen prepared.

Tenorio's case has caught the attention of the provincial governor, Santiago Malo, who pledged to address the issue. Meanwhile, Tenorio continues to recover from both physical injuries, including a fractured nose, and the emotional toll of the attack.

Source: Primicias.

Cuenca is experiencing a surge in water meter thefts, causing widespread concern among residents. In the last three months, several thefts have been reported in both residential and commercial properties. One of the most recent incidents occurred on November 15, at the Misioneras de María Corredentora, where thieves stole five meters and damaged several water pipes. The theft was discovered when neighbors noticed water leakage, prompting them to alert the religious group.

Other incidents include a theft on November 6, where seven meters were stolen from a location on Pío Bravo and Presidente Borrero streets, and another theft on November 7, where eight meters were taken from a property on Simón Bolívar and Miguel Vélez streets.

Marizta Tapia, a victim of one such theft, reported the crime to the Azuay Prosecutor’s Office and provided security footage showing the perpetrators—three men wearing hoodies, carrying backpacks, and removing the meters with remarkable ease. Tapia suspects that these thieves may be operating under the direction of someone with the intention of selling the stolen meters, and has urged local police to increase patrols during the night when these thefts typically occur.

Carlos Cajilema, a meter reader for ETAPA EP, emphasized that the stolen meters are uniquely coded to individual users, making them unusable elsewhere. Each meter is registered with a customer account number and is not reusable by anyone else. New meters cost about $130, and victims must purchase them to restore their water service.

In response, ETAPA EP has launched a campaign advising property owners to take additional security measures, such as installing metal boxes or grids around meters, and to verify the identity of meter readers. ETAPA EP also encourages reporting thefts immediately through their branches or the direct line 188.

The thefts are driven by the high value of the metals in the meters, particularly copper and, to a lesser extent, bronze. These materials are in high demand for manufacturing cables, machinery parts, and other industrial products. The stolen materials can be easily sold at scrap yards or recycling centers without proper checks on their origin. Authorities are also investigating the possibility that stolen meters are being resold in neighboring cantons. Municipalities and community water organizations are on alert.

Out of 300 municipal video surveillance systems, 100 have been upgraded with Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the remaining 200 are expected to be updated by the end of the year. The new systems feature 360-degree coverage, eliminating blind spots and providing detailed information, such as identifying incidents through personal features, vehicle plates, and other critical details.

One of the newly installed systems is located in the Cayambe neighborhood, a high-risk area, where the AI cameras are expected to help control crime. According to Pablo Cueva, director of the Citizen Security Council (CSC), an additional AI video analytics server will be acquired, and the private sector will donate another. Additionally, 80 new cameras with AI capabilities will be installed in various parts of the city, including the commercial and financial districts, by mid-2025.

Despite these advancements, there is concern over Decree 397, which transfers control of municipal surveillance cameras to the ECU-911 emergency system. The president of the Ecuadorian Association of Municipalities (AME), Patricio Maldonado, expressed worries about this decision, as the ECU-911 lacks the resources to maintain the cameras already under its responsibility.

Source: El Mercurio.