Ecuador government proposes $214 million hike in security spending
The government of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has proposed raising security spending by $214 million in 2024, as it deploys the military to help fight violence blamed on drug trafficking gangs, and could raise value-added tax to 15% from April. Noboa declared gangs to be terrorist groups last month after the latest surge of violence, when dozens of prison guards were taken hostage and gunmen invaded a television station during a live broadcast. Security spending would reach $3.52 billion under the budget proposal described in a statement published late on Tuesday by the economy ministr...