Ecuador deploys armoured automobiles to fight organised crime

IANS

Ecuador deploys armoured automobiles to fight organised crime

Quito, Nov 18 (IANS) Ecuador’s outgoing President Guillermo Lasso has handed over 15 Turkish-built Otokar armoured tactical automobiles to the armed forces to assist combat organised crime and violence.

The armoured automobiles, every of which may accommodate 9 troopers, “have greater ballistic and mine protection”, Xinhua information company quoted Lasso as saying throughout the handover at Mariscal Sucre Air Base right here on Friday.

“They also have technical characteristics for entering places that are difficult to access and highly dangerous in urban and rural settings,” he added.

The automobiles delivered to the military have been a part of the method of strengthening the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces, stated the outgoing loeader, who has declared a frontal assault on drug trafficking, which has lately plagued the South American nation.

“Today I am pleased to say that I leave an army, an air force and a navy with better technical and operational capabilities,” stated Lasso, talking simply days earlier than his time period ends on November 22 and is to be succeeded by President-elect Daniel Noboa.

Lasso added that his authorities invested $430 million within the new navy {hardware}.