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 operation

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.