Quito Launches Enhanced Security Plan with 2,000 Additional Police and Drones

Quito has initiated a comprehensive security plan aimed at enhancing public safety across the capital city. The "Plan de Protección de Quito" involves the deployment of 2,000 additional National Police officers, who began their operations on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. These reinforcements will cover all nine districts of the Metropolitan District of Quito. The deployment strategy is dynamic, adapting to crime rates, citizen reports, and intelligence gathered by police units. Initial operations focused on the Las Cuadras market in the southern Chillogallo sector, serving as a hub for distributing personnel throughout the city. Interior Minister John Reimberg supervised controls in the Villaflora and Chiriyacu areas, emphasizing that the operations are mandated by President Daniel Noboa and will remain active across all nine districts. The plan includes continuous 24-hour patrols and controls, with the positioning and number of officers adjusted based on real-time alerts and data from each zone. Resources supporting these efforts include patrol cars, motorcycles, drones, and a helicopter. The police presence will be concentrated in universities, commercial areas, crowded public spaces, and locations with high crime incidence. During the initial stages, authorities confiscated bladed weapons and police uniforms, and located stolen motorcycles, though specific numbers of arrests or seizures were not immediately released. Intelligence and investigation units will conduct targeted operations against complex criminal activities such as micro-trafficking and extortion, aiming to identify, weaken, and dismantle criminal structures operating within the capital.