The United States has opened its first Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Ecuador, the US embassy in Quito announced Wednesday.
This new branch aims to strengthen cooperation between American and Ecuadorian authorities in the fight against drug and arms trafficking, as well as against money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
According to the US embassy, the FBI office will intensify information sharing and improve joint investigations in the face of increasing transnational criminal activity in the region.
Ecuador has become a strategic point for drug trafficking networks in recent years, due to its geographical position between Colombia and Peru, two of the world's largest producers of cocaine.
Washington is thus seeking to support Ecuadorian authorities in their efforts to contain the rise in cartel-related violence and strengthen regional security.
