31OCT25 #EcuadorReport ☠️Security Alert👻

31OCT25 🎃Security Alert: 'Continued Violence and Security Operations in Ecuador– Update for U.S. Citizens☠️

"The U.S. Mission in Ecuador is closely monitoring the security situation and increase in violent crime in country, including increased enforcement by the government of Ecuador against criminal interests, several high-profile weapons seizures, and air strikes against drug trafficking vessels in the eastern Pacific.

On October 14, suspected narco-terrorists detonated a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) in Guayaquil outside the Nobis Building, near the Sheraton Hotel and Mall del Sol. The attack resulted in one death and 28 injuries. A second, unexploded VBIED was found in the vicinity of the blast.

If both vehicles had detonated at maximum efficiency as intended, they would have caused significantly more damage and deaths. This incident highlights the growing threat posed by organized criminal groups operating in Ecuador.

The provinces of Guayas, Los Rios, El Oro, and Manabi remain under a state of emergency. Government data indicates a 37% increase in homicides nationwide between January and August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Violence remains concentrated along drug trafficking routes, particularly in and around Guayaquil.

In response, Ecuadorian authorities have launched a large-scale security operation aimed at restoring public order, reducing criminal violence, and dismantling criminal networks. According to public statements by government officials, the operation includes targeted arrests, and the seizure of weapons and explosives.

Officials have not announced an end date for this operation. While there is no indication that U.S. citizens are the target of criminal activity, all U.S. citizen residents and travelers

should be aware of the changing security environment and increased risk of possible retaliatory action by criminal organizations.

Actions to Take: Avoid areas with active security operations.

Monitor local media and official sources (e.g., ECU911, Policía Nacional) for updates.

Be aware of your surroundings and practice personal security measures. Follow the instructions of local authorities.

Report emergencies involving U.S. citizens to the U.S. Embassy in Quito or

the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates:

https://step.state.gov/

For assistance, contact the U.S. Embassy in Quito or the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil.

Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Quito, Ecuador

+(593)(2) 398-5000

ACSQuito@state.gov

U.S. Consulate General Guayaquil, Ecuador

+(593)(4) 371-7000

ACSGuayaquil@state.gov

Embassy website:

https://ec.usembassy.gov/security-alert-continued-violence-and-security-operations-in-ecuador-update-for-u-s-citizens/

🗳(SUN 16NOV25 Referendum Vote to change the 2008 Constitution is the next bump in the road)🛣

 🗳(SUN 16NOV25 Referendum Vote to change the 2008 Constitution is the next bump in the road)🛣

05OCT25 - 'CNE sets November referendum and popular consultations for Ecuador- "Ecuadorians will vote on a Constituent Assembly, military bases, party financing, and creation of Borbón canton. Referendum and consultation confirmed for November-

The National Electoral Council (CNE) formally launched the electoral process on Thursday, September 25th, setting November 16, 2025, as the date for a nationwide referendum and multiple popular consultations. The decision follows a favorable ruling from the Constitutional Court that cleared the way for President Daniel Noboa’s initiative to ask citizens whether they want to convene a Constituent Assembly to draft a new Constitution.

During a virtual session held at 11:00 a.m., the CNE plenary approved the resolution declaring the start of the process and instructing officials to carry out the necessary technical and operational tasks to unify the referendum with the consultations already on the electoral calendar. Notifications will also be sent to the Presidency, National Assembly, Constitutional Court, Electoral Litigation Tribunal, and other state bodies.

CNE President Diana Atamaint clarified in a radio interview that the vote will not immediately establish a Constituent Assembly but rather determine whether Ecuadorians want to take that first step. “We’re just going to ask the people if that’s what they want regarding the possibility of changing or creating a new Constitution. We’re not even entering a Constituent Assembly yet. That’s a second step,” she said.

Cost and ballot design

The combined referendum and consultations will cost $59 million, according to the electoral authority. Atamaint emphasized that the budget covers the entire process, including two referendum questions and additional consultations. She added that the electoral calendar was approved on September 21st and that ballot design is already underway.

The main constitutional referendum question will ask Ecuadorians:

“Do you agree that a Constituent Assembly be convened and established, whose representatives will be elected by the Ecuadorian people, in accordance with the electoral rules set forth in the attached Constituent Statute, to draft a new Constitution of the Republic, which will enter into force only if subsequently approved by Ecuadorians in a referendum?”

Other issues on the ballot

Alongside the Constituent Assembly question, citizens will also be asked to decide on two additional national issues: whether to allow foreign military bases in Ecuador and whether to maintain state funding for political parties. Both questions involve reforms that directly affect the current 2008 Constitution.

In addition, the CNE approved a popular consultation in Esmeraldas Province on whether Borbón should become a new canton. This local referendum will be held on the same date as the nationwide votes, streamlining the electoral process and reducing costs.

Next steps

With the Court’s endorsement and the CNE’s formal call, Ecuador’s electoral authorities will now work to ensure that the different ballots are ready and distributed on time. The resolution has also mandated publication in the Official Registry and wide dissemination through electronic and digital media.

For the first time since the adoption of the 2008 Constitution, Ecuadorians will have the chance to decide if they want to rewrite the nation’s foundational document through a Constituent Assembly, while at the same time weighing questions of national sovereignty, political financing, and local autonomy in Esmeraldas." - https://www.cne.gob.ec/cne-aprueba-actualizacion-de-diseno-de-papeleta-para-incluir-la-pregunta-sobre-reduccion-de-asambleistas/

much more fun n frolic 🪖on the horizon for lil ole Ecuador 🇪🇨 and the Northern SA region🌎Southcom just sent USS Gerald Ford to Caribbean Waters Vz / Col,

 (We got much more fun n frolic 🪖on the horizon for lil ole Ecuador 🇪🇨 and the Northern SA region🌎Southcom just sent USS Gerald Ford to Caribbean Waters Vz / Col, and also US just put severe sanctions on COL Pres Petro (Former M-19 / FARC / ANAPO)🪖of Colombia today FRI 24OCT25 - 'US deploys aircraft carrier amid hardening stance towards Venezuela- "The United States will send an aircraft carrier strike group to Latin America, in a major escalation of its military presence in the region amid speculation of a possible effort to overthrow the Venezuelan government.

A spokesperson for the US military said on Friday that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the USS Gerald Ford and five destroyers in its accompanying strike group to deploy to Latin America.

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“The enhanced US force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster US capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a social media post.

But the deployment suggests a level of military firepower far beyond the Trump administration’s stated goals of combating drug trafficking, and comes as the US takes an increasingly hard line against Caracas, a longtime target of US ire.

The US already has about 6,000 sailors and Marines in the region on board eight warships, now to be joined by the USS Gerald Ford and the five destroyers in its strike group, along with an additional 4,500 personnel. The carrier is currently in the Mediterranean Sea, and it is unclear when it will arrive in Latin America...." -

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2025/10/24/us-deploys-aircraft-carrier-amid-hardening-stance-towards-venezuela

FRI 24OCT25 #Ecuador will be heavily impacted from this Col/Vz / USA Northern South America Regional WAR🚀🛰️🚢⛽️🛢️- 'US sanctions Colombia's president, accuses him of allowing expansion of drug trade- WASHINGTON/BOGOTA/MEXICO CITY, Oct 24 (Reuters) - "The U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, as President Donald Trump sharply escalated a feud with Washington's longtime Latin American ally over accusations that Petro has refused to stop the flow of cocaine into the United States.

Tensions between Washington and many countries in the region have been mounting for weeks. The U.S. military has ratcheted up activity in the southern Caribbean, striking vessels in international waters that it has alleged without evidence are carrying drugs. Trump this week called Petro an "illegal drug leader" after the leftist president accused the U.S. of committing "murder" with the strikes...." -

Sanctions placed on Petro, his family, interior minister
Petro says Treasury accusations are a lie
Sanctions against a head of state are rare but not unprecedented
Trump has called Petro an 'illegal drug leader'

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-sanctions-colombian-president-petro-citing-illicit-drugs-2025-10-24/

Quito UIO✈️Tababela House🏘️ for sale $79k

12OCT25 NEW Smart Casa🏠En Venta #EcuadorReport 3BR 2Bath 125m2 on a 100m2 Lote in Tababela #Quito✈️5 minutes Near to the #UIO🎒Quito International Airport for $79,950. (Nego)📉by JJinEcu🤠 https://youtu.be/6v_IFxELPKA?si=jPjAwdn78FEH1Zbk

SUN 05OCT25 (11:03) #ParoDay14 #Quito #Ecuador Pres Noboa:

SUN 05OCT25 (11:03) #ParoDay14 #Quito #Ecuador Pres Noboa: "No one can come and take by force the capital of all Ecuadorians.

To those who choose violence, the law awaits them. To those who act like criminals, they will be treated as criminals.

We continue doing what is our duty: we will be in Pastaza tomorrow, together with those who truly build the country, helping those who need it most to produce more and get ahead." - (1/2)

"While some want to stop Ecuador, we propel it forward.

We will reduce the VAT to 8% during the holidays of October 9, and November 2 and 3, because this country is not going to grind to a halt because of a few who lost the business of smuggling and illegal mining.

To boost the local economy, on November 14 we will pay the thirteenth salary to public employees,

so families will have more money during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We invite the private sector to join this initiative." - (2/2)

https://x.com/danielnoboaok/status/1974868121807720487?s=46&t=i54L5FgQ-47_fA61IWaAQg

30 SEPT 2010🪖#Ecuador (From 15 years ago) #ParoNacional2010 The #Quito Coup attempt on President Correa, a 1 week long nationwide protests and riots that culminated in a

 30 SEPT 2010🪖#Ecuador (From 15 years ago) #ParoNacional2010 The #Quito Coup attempt on President Correa, a 1 week long nationwide protests and riots that culminated in a 45 minute automatic weapons shootout firefight between the National Police and the Ecu Military in North Quito at the National Police Hospital on Av Marian de Jesus y Av America just next door up hill from Hospital Metropolitano. ⛑

At the time i was living 4 blocks North of the shootout Av Moñasca & Av America. The Shootout rescue began about sundown,🌇Bullets were ricocheting around the neighborhood! The CS Riot Gas is very super strong and effective!! (makes me gag:( during this week of Paro / Strikes My Best Friend from GA. USA 'Bud' was visiting me for some good ole economical Ecuadorian Dental Work🦷

Bud has traveled way more and way longer than myself, when he finally made it back to my Casa from his dental appointment, he looked very pale and surprised, and Bud dont rattle too easily🤠

😇4 Ecuadorians Lost their Life during that 30SEP 2010 week of strikes protests and riots.✝️✝️✝️✝️-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHuVBD4XxJ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgOE3Xuidm8

https://youtu.be/1NbyAIVtOOI?si=ERGIAbdYufl-dPe3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VToR2jcD-4E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vxr8R1mfrM

https://youtu.be/cHuVBD4XxJ8?si=MnTYhEocc1IYqt_i

 23SEP25 by Susan S. Admin EE40k -
 ‘In Memoriam: Gerard Tretton- 

In 2010, Gerard Tretton created Ecuador Expats. Almost sixteen years later, the group has grown to more than 40,000 members. I am proud to say I was one of the very first people he invited to join. I had known Gerard since at least 2005, when we were both part of a Yahoo group about moving to and living in Ecuador. That Yahoo group was tightly controlled, and eventually the founder kicked us both out, first me and then him. That was in late 2009. Gerard, being Gerard, would not be stopped. He recognized the new technology of Facebook, saw a better way to connect with people, and built it. That is the origin story of Ecuador Expats.

For nearly a decade, Gerard ran this group with persistence, humor, and resilience. When the time came to step back, he brought in David Sasaki as administrator. Soon after, both Elizabeth Drummond and I were invited to join the admin team, continuing the work Gerard had begun. Gerard became our administrator emeritus, watching the community grow on the foundation he had laid.

Gerard was a man who met life’s challenges head on and never let obstacles stop him. He built something lasting that has connected tens of thousands of people who came here seeking to make Ecuador their home. Today we honor his vision, his perseverance, and his friendship. May his memory be a blessing.

===

RIP Gerard Tretton - (2014) 'Expatrtiate Stories: Cuenca, Ecuador Gerard Tretton is interviewed by Dr. Craig Zachlod - 5099 views, Feb 12, 2014, "This interview of Gerard Tretton is part of the series Expatriate Stories: Ecuador. We interviewed several expatriates who shared their stories, experience and advice about living as expatriates in Ecuador. Each expatriate story is unique. Our project goal is to acquire sponsorships and extend this education and entertainment project to many other locations in the world. We appeal to you for support and your participation." - https://youtu.be/fIJGkrmfj10?si=VGCYEvS7lzs-3_VH