Ecuadorians head to polls to toughen fight against gangs behind wave of violence

Ecuador President Daniel Noboa (Dolores Ochoa/AP, File)

Ecuadorians head to the polls on Sunday in a referendum touted by the country’s fledgling leader as a way to crack down on criminal gangs behind a spiralling wave of violence.

The majority of 11 questions posed to voters focus on tightening security measures. Proposals include deploying the army in the fight against the gangs, loosening obstacles to extradition of accused criminals and lengthening prison sentences for convicted drug traffickers.