New bus stations planned; Government warns against Venezuela travel; Customs office upgrades detection controls; Carapaz finishes third in Giro d’Italia

Cuenca’s main bus terminal on Av. España will be replaced by two new terminals, the city announced last week. Municipal Projects Director Romeo Moncayo said the new terminals, located in Narancay and on Av. del Migrante, will open in about three years.

According to Moncayo, the Av. España location has outlived its usefulness. “It is 47 years old and is in generally poor condition and the location is no longer practical because of heavy traffic,” he said. “The new stations will be strategically located in the north and south of the city, in areas with good access.”

Ecuador cyclist Ricardo Carapaz finished third Saturday in the Giro d’Italia.

Although the locations of the new terminals have been determined, planning for the new facilities should begin in September, Moncayo said. “The design process should take about six months, after which we will acquire property and begin the construction.”

Customs service upgrades border and port controls
Ecuador’s Customs Service has signed a contract with U.S. security company Palantir to strengthen border and port control. According to Customs Director Sandro Castillo, Palantir will provide software and consulting services to improve detection of illegal shipments entering and leaving the country.

“With these services, our office will be more effective in controlling substance trafficking, smuggling and money laundering activities,” Castillo said. “Palantir is a world leader in providing intelligence information on illegal activities and this will alert us in advance at our ports and borders,” he said.

Palantir provides intelligence to governments and transnational companies and has recently expanded into customs services. The company is credited with providing information to the U.S. government that led to the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden.

Carapaz finishes third in Giro d’Italia
Ecuador cyclist Ricardo Carapaz finished third Saturday at the Giro d’Italia, behind Great Britain’s Simon Yates and Mexico’s Isaac del Toro. Following the final ceremony Rome, Carapaz who battled back from a slow start in the 20-stage race, said he was satisfied with his performance.

The Carchi native said he plans to rest for a few days before beginning preparation for the Tour de France in July.

Carapaz won the Giro d’Italia in 2019 and finished second in 2022. He placed third in the Tour de France in 2021.

Government warns against Venezuela travel
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is warning Ecuadorian residents to limit travel to Venezuela except for “emergency or urgent” reasons. “There is high risk of arbitrary detention with the lack of guarantees for due process and the right to defense in that country,” the ministry said in a statement. “There is also an extraordinary risk of street crime in the major cities due to deteriorating economic conditions,” the statement added.

Due the lack of diplomatic relations between Ecuador and Venezuela, the ministry said it is unable to provide assistance to Ecuadorians residing or traveling in Venezuela. “Venezuelan authorities refuse to provide information about Ecuadorians detained in that country and often do not allow those detained to contact family or authorities in Ecuador.”

The ministry said the warning is the result of three recent detentions of Ecuadorians in Caracas.