Ecuador in the Hands of the World’s Dominant Drug Cartels

Ecuador, a typically peaceful country, is under attack.

In the last years Ecuador has suffered from an intense rise in criminal activity, constant murderers of political figures (including a presidential candidate) and the invasion of external drug cartels; not limited to FARC, the Sinaloa Cartel, Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación and the Albanian mafia.

Criminal activity has increased exponentially within the last years and prison sentences have never been higher. This trend first began in Guayaquil, the financial capital, January 21st, 2022. At 21:00 hours, 13 armed men started shooting with no direct target, causing the death of 6 people, only one of them having any affiliation with drug consumption and distribution. It is believed that these men had a single purpose and that was to send a message -- they clarified that gangs would now show their strength in the streets.

In 2009, former president Rafael Correa implemented new policies, not only in prisons but in international affairs that continue to affect the state of the country. His policies prohibited the US from having a military base in Manta, an Ecuadorian coastal city. While this was not immediately an issue it has allowed present day dealers to get drugs into the country because of the lack of security in the coast. The US was in place to monitor the cargo ships entering Ecuador to limit distribution. They checked maritime and airways limiting deliveries, which are typically made in speed boats. A second policy, however, made the accused remain in prison throughout their trial. This made prisons become a better recruitment center.

Photo from The New York Times

During Lenín Moreno’s government, Correa’s successor, money was taken out of security reforms and put into paying the national debt. This left the security system weak, with no external help and unsecure prisons, serving as recruitment centers. Policemen no longer had bulletproof vests or even guns to protect themselves. Yet, this was not the scariest innovation. Because of local gangs joining forces with international drug cartels, they are no longer afraid to confront the Ecuadorian government openly, raising openness about recruitment, a pattern commonly seen from Mexican cartels. Such costumes have been adopted because the Mexican cartels are in search of alliance not only production, something typical of Colombian gangs.

Problems truly began in 2016 when the Plan Colombia was passed. This was an arrangement managed by the US in search of eliminating the production of drugs in Colombia. By passing this treaty, a lot of gang members left the country, migrating to a now unarmed neighbor, Ecuador. Due to this, Ecuador is now one of the top exporters of cocaine to Europe, coming third to Peru and Colombia. In fact, in August the biggest drug bust was made in the Netherlands, finding 9 tons of cocaine shipped with bananas, equivalent to 660 million US dollars.

9 tons of cocaine found in a Dutch port. Photo from The New York Times

Other factors that have contributed to the overtaking of Ecuador have been the currency. Because their economy operates in dollars, it has also become a big money-laundering site for international cartels. As a counter attack, current president, Guillermo Lasso, has made it clear that he will go after the cartels surging in the country. An act that does put his life in danger. A clear example of this happening is Fernando Villacencio. He was a presidential candidate in 2022 and openly spoke of his plans to dismantle the cartels. Shortly after his speech he was killed in broad daylight, much like other politicians who have been transparent about their stance.

Tensions continue to rise, especially because of the recent death of the leader of “Los Choneros”, Ecuador’s largest national cartel. His death implies others will take over but that remains uncertain, making gang leaders fight, raising citizens unsafety.

As someone with an Ecuadorian family and who regularly visited the country as a child, not only are these events shocking but worrisome. I feel for my family and all other Ecuadorians going through this.