The Anti-Extortion Investigation Force (FICE) already operates in the territory, the National Police announced on March 20.
New special force focused on kidnappings and extortion
Posted On 22 Mar 2024
The Police announced the formation of a group dedicated to the crimes of kidnapping and extortion. They will initially focus on Los Ríos, Santa Elena, Guayas and Pichincha.
For three months, several agents were trained in anti-terrorism investigation for extortion and kidnapping with explosives.
The FICE is also made up of agents from special units such as the National Directorate of Crimes against Life, Violent Deaths, Disappearances, Extortion and Kidnapping (Dinased), the National Anti-Crime Investigation Unit (UIAD), the Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit (Unase), and the Cybercrime Unit.
This group will concentrate its operation on criminal intelligence work but will also review the complaints received at 131 Rewards, 1800-Crimes and ECU 911.
Freddy Sarzosa, national director of Investigation, indicated that this new unit has the purpose of individualizing the participation of people or organizations that are associated with organized crime and terrorism.
At ECU 911 there will be a UNASE police officer receiving the cases. FICE agents have passed trust tests.
According to Ecuavisa, the Anti-Extortion Investigation Force will operate primarily in the most violent cantons, such as Babahoyo, Ventanas, Buena Fe and Vinces in Los Ríos; Salinas, Santa Elena and La Libertad in the province of Santa Elena; Guayaquil, Durán, Samborondón and Beaches in Guayas; and Quito in Pichincha.
According to the entity’s figures, so far in 2024 in the country, 335 complaints of kidnappings and 1,697 of extortion have been registered.
