Early Monday in Quito a bomb exploded at the office of Arcom, Ecuador's mining
regulator, shattering windows across several floors of a major government
building. Agriculture Minister Juan Carlos Vega said the attack was linked to
recent government reform measures targeting illegal mining. It is the second
bombing at Arcom offices in recent weeks; on June 12 an explosion damaged an
Arcom office and nearby homes in Machala. The government is boosting Arcom's
budget to support nationwide operations against drug‑trafficking groups it says
are heavily involved in illegal gold mining.