Part of its on-going collaboration with Ecuador to fight drug trafficking , the United States hands over the facilities of the Coast Guard School in Guayaquil to the National Navy. Ecuadorian's intercepting boats will now be outfitted with outboard motors and be able to get swift repairs. "The main objective is the establishment of an operational group, which focuses on enhancing the response capability of the Ecuadorian government to the growing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations" says US State Department's Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Todd D. Robinson.The initiative marks the establishment of the Riverine Task Force, known as the Marine Operations Group (Gomar), which will see police and the National Navy working together to secure the Guayaquil canton. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES