US officials to visit Ecuador after surge of violence - State Dept

U.S. law enforcement officials will travel to Ecuador to assist in criminal investigations after drug gangs caused a wave of violence, the State Department said in a statement on Thursday.

In addition to the law enforcement contingent, senior officials from the State Department and the U.S. military will visit the South American country in the coming weeks to explore ways to help Ecuador confront the threat of the drug gangs, the statement said.