Ecuador's Noboa seeks tax hike to fund security

FILE PHOTO: Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, accompanied by National Police Commander General Cesar Zapata, Interior Minister Monica Palencia, Defence Minister Giancarlo Loffredo and Armed Forces Commander Rear Admiral Jaime Vela, details plans for two new high-security prisons, in Quito, Ecuador January 11, 2024. Carlos Silva/Ecuador Presidency/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

QUITO (Reuters) - The administration of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has asked lawmakers to weigh an increase in value added tax (VAT) to finance efforts to combat crime gangs, as the armed forces increased operations in violent areas on Friday.

A dramatic spike in violence this week - including the on-air storming of a TV station, the hostage-taking of 178 prison staff by inmates and the kidnapping of police officers - appears to be a response by gangs to Noboa's plans to tackle a dire security situation.