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Ecuadorians are set to vote on Sunday amidst a backdrop of escalating drug-related violence and a troubling rise in local gangs and organized crime. The influx of cocaine from neighboring Colombia and Peru has attracted various international criminal organizations, transforming what was once a relatively safe country into a battleground for competing factions.
The drug trade has not only invited notorious mafias from nations like Albania, Italy, and Mexico but has also spurred the emergence of several homegrown gangs, each with distinctive names and increasingly brutal reputations. Groups like “Los Freddy Kruegers,” “The Ugly Women’s Headquarters,” and “The Peaky Blinders” are among those exerting their dominance through extortion, kidnapping, and murder.
Recent statistics from the Interior Ministry indicate a staggering rate of violence, with Ecuador experiencing more than one homicide per hour in January and February alone. Guayaquil’s police chief, Pablo Davila, acknowledges the complexities of combating these criminal organizations, stating that they have been significantly expanding their territory and influence.
Security has taken center stage in the presidential runoff between the current president, Daniel Noboa, and leftist candidate Luisa Gonzalez. Noboa has responded to the crisis by declaring a state of emergency and deploying military forces to tackle violence on the streets and in overcrowded prisons. These measures led to a slight reduction in homicide rates compared to the previous year, a small victory overshadowed by ongoing criminal acts, including a violent siege at a television studio and the assassination of a prosecutor involved in the investigation.
“They demanded $15,000 not to kill us”
A local merchant recounted a harrowing experience when a bomb detonated in her restaurant in Guayaquil, the heart of both economic and criminal activity in the country. “They said they were from the mafia. They demanded $15,000 not to kill us,” she explained, requesting anonymity for her safety. The collusion of local gangs with larger cartels from Mexico and Colombia, as well as the Albanian and Italian mafias, has created a volatile environment. However, this cooperation has also resulted in a fragmentation of local gangs, each vying for a larger share of the drug trade.
One gang leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that “the war is over territory,” indicating a lack of centralized leadership. The influx of smaller, unpredictable groups presents significant challenges for Ecuador’s security forces, which now must navigate a rapidly shifting landscape of criminal activity. Security expert Carla Alvarez likens the current situation to Colombia in the 1990s, following the demise of infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, as both nations grapple with the rise of numerous smaller factions.
Since 2018, Ecuador’s criminal landscape has evolved drastically, particularly after the demise of “Choneros” leader Jorge Luis Zambrano, which created a power vacuum that has only worsened the situation, extending its reach even to the streets of Quito. In areas that were once considered safe, like the Martha Bucaram neighborhood, residents like Marianela find themselves at the mercy of violence, receiving threats and extortion demands through messaging platforms. “I block them,” she admits, but the reality is that violence remains ever-present, evidenced by the frequent presence of police and military forces conducting operations in the area.
As gang dynamics shift and new alliances form, the potential for even greater violence looms large. Carolina Andrade, a municipal security secretary, contends that the relative security of Quito, especially compared to harder-hit cities like Guayaquil, is beginning to erode as local gangs seek refuge in the capital. Additionally, smaller gangs are attempting to align themselves with larger organizations to bolster their influence and control over territory.
Recent months have seen heightened attention from the U.S. government towards Ecuadorian criminal syndicates, with at least two prominent gang leaders facing charges for their roles in international drug trafficking operations. The leader of “Los Cheronos,” now a fugitive, was indicted in New York for allegedly importing significant quantities of cocaine into the U.S., while in 2024, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on “Los Choneros” for their involvement in drug trafficking. Furthermore, Carlos D, an important figure within “Los Lobos,” was apprehended at his residence, signifying ongoing efforts to dismantle major crime syndicates in the region.
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