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Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso has renewed a 30-day state of emergency in nine of the country’s 24 provinces in order to combat criminality linked to drug consumption and trafficking, according to his government.

The renewal will maintain military patrols on the streets in regions where homicide and other drug-related crimes are prevalent.

Last month, Lasso declared a state of emergency for 60 days. The country’s constitutional court shortened the sentence to 30 days and stated that the military can only assist the police when it is necessary.

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“President Guillermo Lasso has extended the state of emergency imposed on October 18, 2021…for another 30 days in the provinces of El Oro, Guayas, Santa Elena, Manabi, Los Rios, Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo, Pichincha, and Sucumbios,” according to Lasso’s press office.

Lasso stated in a decree that the measures imposed during the first 30 days of the state of emergency were effective but did not eliminate the causes of rising crime.

According to the government’s edict, the homicide rate has dropped from 1.84 per 100,000 people in September to 0.63 thus far in November.

Over the previous month, security personnel have carried out over 230,000 operations, breaking up 76 gangs, confiscating 16 tonnes of drugs, and detaining 7,000 people, according to the Interior Ministry.

According to authorities, drug trafficking is responsible for more than 70% of violent deaths in Guayas province, which includes the city of Guayaquil.

Within the country’s jails, violence has also increased. Last week, at least 62 convicts perished in Guayaquil’s Penitenciaria del Litoral jail as a result of gang disputes, according to the administration.

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In September, Lasso proclaimed a 60-day state of emergency over the jail system, which has been criticized for overcrowding, poor inmate housing conditions, and violence, freeing up government funds and allowing for limited military intervention.