UAE technology fortifies Ecuador against drug smuggling, says Sheikh Saif

Lt. General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, emphasised that under the guidance of visionary leadership, the UAE has emerged as a reliable partner in the fields of security and technology.

He further stated that Ecuador's implementation of an Emirati system from EDGE, which utilises artificial intelligence to oversee borders and combat organised crime and smuggling, represents a significant milestone in transforming leadership's vision into global trust.

Ecuador has announced a strategic alliance with the UAE to enhance border security with Colombia and Peru, employing an AI-driven surveillance system to detect illegal activities and questionable movements. This move is aligned with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s strategy to integrate technology developed by the EDGE Group, aiming to prevent Ecuador from being a logistics hub for drug trafficking.

In a conversation with "Radio Élite" in Guayaquil, Noboa detailed that the automated system would process real-time data to enhance the identification of suspicious activities and prevent narcotics from contaminating commercial shipments. The system will be deployed at key border crossings, especially at Rumichaca (bordering Colombia) and Huaquillas (bordering Peru).

Noboa highlighted that 75% of the cocaine passing through Ecuador enters via its northern border and argued that using artificial intelligence in this system would be far more effective than deploying 50,000 soldiers to manage conventional surveillance issues.