Guayaquil, April 5, 2023. The U.S. Government donated five protective bomb suits valued at $245,000 to the National Police today. The suits, classified as level eight and level nine, are highly protective against explosions, shockwaves, shrapnel, impact, heat, and fire. The cases will enhance the safety of National Police Officers who remove and disarm explosive devices.
The donation ceremony was attended by Juan Zapata, Minister of the Interior; Lieutenant Colonel Roberto Pastor, Intervention and Rescue Group; Fausto Salinas, General Commander of the National Police, among other authorities.
“This donation supports our common goal of living in free, safe, and democratic societies. Ecuador can count on the United States’ support to combat insecurity, drug trafficking, and organized crime,” said Tim Stater, Acting Consul General of the United States in Guayaquil.
In August 2022, the United States delivered two bomb suits valued at $110,000. One of them was directed to the Zone 8 Commander the day after the attack in Guayaquil’s Cristo del Consuelo sector.
In addition, to bomb suit donations, the U.S. Government trained 48 police and prosecutors to help them identify explosives and collect evidence to support an investigation.
This donation is a tangible demonstration of the U.S. Government’s commitment to work with Ecuadorians and law enforcement to confront the violence affecting us all and support citizen security together.
