In a short video, posted on social networks, President Daniel Noboa gave more details about the Fénix security plan, including the new prisons he plans to build.
The president, Daniel Noboa, at a conference in Cuenca on December 21, 2023.
During his visit to Cuenca, which will host an Ibero-American presidential summit in 2024, President Daniel Noboa took time to give an interview and outline more details about his Fénix security plan.
Through a first video, released on the Presidency’s social networks, Noboa announced on December 21, 2023 that in the first quarter of next year there will be an exchange of scrap metal for new weapons with the United States, as part of his strategy to confront insecurity.
Noboa assured that this is part of the Fénix Plan, with which it seeks to confront the high levels of insecurity that have led Ecuador to become one of the countries with the greatest criminal violence in the world.
“We have cooperation with countries like the United States, with which there is an exchange of scrap metal with latest generation weapons. That is a value of USD 200 million. We are going to have that in the first quarter of next year,” he said in a statement. spot.
Noboa’s announcements came shortly after a new massacre caused by organized crime, which claimed the lives of six people, including two minors, in Durán, Guayas.
Changes in prisons
In addition, Noboa mentioned that it is necessary to invest USD 70 million a year “for the penitentiary care service, the SNAI, to function correctly,” directed by the colonel in passive service, Luis Zaldumbide.
Along these lines, he said that negotiations have already been completed with international groups that built prisons in El Salvador and Mexico, with which the first stone will be laid in January to replicate that model in Ecuador.
Precisely, on the issue of prisons, the Government released a second 36-second video in which two new prisons are promised in the next 200 days.
“The first two prisons should be in 200 days maximum. It is one of the emergencies,” said Noboa.
As last week, the President reiterated that there are more than 3,000 foreign prisoners of liberty. Of this total, more than 1,000 have an enforceable sentence of more than five years and would return to their country of origin.
“They have come to the country to commit crimes and create disorder,” added Noboa, who defended his decision to expel them from Ecuador, claiming that the measure reduces overcrowding in rehabilitation centers.
According to Noboa, the Fénix Plan began with the change of the leadership that will be in charge of executing it, by referring to the renewal of the military command and five of the eight Police generals. The Government, however, maintains a secret about this plan that is taking it forward in dribs and drabs.
