Ecuador declares state of emergency in areas hit by drug trafficking

Ecuador declared a state of emergency on Saturday in the nation's major port and other areas reeling from drug-related crime.

President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in the port of Guayaquil and the neighboring districts of Duran and Samborondon, as well as in Santa Elena and Los Rios provinces. The decree permits security forces to set up checkpoints and conduct warrantless searches of people and property. The emergency included a nightly curfew from 1 am to 5 am in the affected areas.