Ecuador has mobilized 75,000 soldiers and police officers in a major security operation targeting drug gangs operating in the country's most violence-affected regions.

The government has declared it is "at war" with criminal organizations, issuing warnings to citizens in the provinces experiencing the highest levels of gang-related violence. The deployment represents a significant escalation in Ecuador's efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.

The security operation comes as Ecuador has experienced a surge in violence linked to drug trafficking organizations competing for control of smuggling routes. The country has become a key transit point for cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Peru, destined for markets in the United States and Europe.

Authorities have not provided specific details about the duration of the deployment or the exact provinces where the security forces will operate. The mobilization appears to be part of a broader government strategy to regain control over territories where criminal groups have established significant influence.