Power generation reduced at Mazar complex; Spain, Germany and Belgium are top destinations for cocaine; Noboa, Trump and Maduro are satire targets

To conserve water, management of the Mazar hydroelectric complex is operating only two of three generation stations downstream from the reservoir. CelecSur said Tuesday that the power generation shortfall is being made up by other generation plants in the country as well as purchases from Colombia.

Since the beginning of December, the water level at the Mazar reservoir has dropped from 2,151 to 2,139. “The plant remains fully operational, and the temporary suspension of the Paute-Molino station is intended to slow the reduction of the reservoir water level,” CelecSur said.

Several entries in Tuesday night’s masquerade parade targeted the U.S. capture of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro (El Mercurio)

CelecSur added that the weather forecast is for increasing rain through January. It said that the moderate to heavy rain has fallen in the northern central valley since the weekend and should spread south to the watershed supplying the Mazar complex.

Spain, Germany, Belgium and the U.S. are top destinations for cocaine
A National Police study claims that Spain, Germany, Belgium and the U.S. are the top destinations for cocaine shipped from Ecuadorian ports. In total, cocaine shipped from Ecuador is sold in 28 countries, the report says.

The General Directorate of Investigations of the National Police also explained why Ecuador is the desired transit point for cocaine. “In addition, to its proximity to the cocaine producing countries Colombia and Peru, the largest coca growing and processing region in the world sits just north of the Ecuadorian border, in the Putumayo Department,” the report says. “Production in the department increased 151% between 2015 and 2024.”

The report said that cocaine production in both Colombia and Peru is increasing despite a drop in the street price in Europe and the U.S.

Carlos Bravo, director of the crime consulting company Panopticon, explained that Ecuador is a strategic point for drug transport due to its location between Colombia and Peru, and said that cocaine not transported in cargo containers is increasingly being sent by small boats through the out-islands of the Galapagos, where they refuel.

He says that corruption and extorsion in the ports at Guayaquil and Machala make drug shipments on cargo vessels attractive. He says that 55% to 60% of cocaine leaving Ecuador is shipped in banana containers.

Noboa, Trump and Maduro are targets of masquerade parade
A crowd estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 gathered on Av. Huayna Cápac Tuesday night for the annual Comparsas and Mascaradas parade. Dozens of organizations and families poked fun at political figures and local events. Among the 2026 targets were President Daniel Noboa, Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora, former vice president Jorge Glas and Venezuelan refugees.

A late addition to the satire was aimed at last week’s U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump and the U.S.’s thirst for oil.

Local broadcaster Radio Tomebamba reported that many of the parade entries were more “risqué and bawdy” than usual but added they were all in good fun.