O
n May 17, 2023, Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the opposition-led legislature, setting the stage for immediate elections. The snap elections, held on August 20, 2023, resulted in the election of a new congress and a presidential candidate. However, as none of the presidential candidates received a majority of votes, the country is now gearing up for a presidential runoff scheduled for October 15.
In the runoff, Ecuadorians will witness a competition between Luisa Gonzalez of the left-wing populist party associated with former president Rafael Correa and 35-year-old businessman Daniel Noboa, hailing from a prominent and affluent political family lineage. Following the assassination of outspoken organized crime critic Fernando Villavicencio on August 9, addressing crime-related issues has been notably absent in the presidential race.
In recent months, a disturbing trend of targeted killing has swept through the political landscape, claiming the lives of numerous politicians and elected representatives. In the eastern coastal city of Manabí, mayor Luz Marina Delgado and a colleague lost their lives in a fatal attack, as assailants fired upon their vehicle, causing a tragic collision.
A known investigative journalist, Villavicencio, 59 years old, had focused extensively on anticorruption and the violence caused by drug trafficking in Ecuador. Last May, during an interview with CNN en Español, he asserted that Ecuador had been transformed into a “narcotic state” and outlined his intention to spread a campaign against what he labeled the “political mafia.” Villavicencio, who was one of the only citizens who dared to confront such criminals, previously mentioned that he had been the target of life threats by criminal organizations.
Once regarded as a bastion of stability in Latin America, Ecuador now faces a pervasive battle against organized crime that transcends borders. The nation has become embroiled in a complex fight involving Colombian and Mexican drug cartels, both vying for profitable opportunities within a weakened state plagued by corruption and political turmoil, with the criminal groups notably gaining the upper hand.
The tragic surge in violence has not been seen before in the nation’s history, as decapitated bodies, car bombings, and public space confrontations have become distressingly commonplace. Homicide rates have spiked by a staggering 245% in the past two years, driven by escalating brutality, and an unprecedented number of Ecuadorians are now seeking refuge at the southern border of the United States. Within this grim landscape, gang members hang the remains of victims to assert dominance and establish connections with Mexican cartels, indicating their infiltration and collaboration with local criminal groups.
Notably, UN projections suggest that Colombia, by 2021, had achieved a record high cocaine production of around 1,400 metric tons, with nearly 45% of this volume traversing Ecuador en route to North America, Europe, and Australia. This underscores Ecuador’s role as a pivotal transit point in the cocaine trade.
Once drugs enter Ecuador, a majority pass through its biggest port, Guayaquil, on their way to Europe. Common hiding places are next to seafood or inside bananas. Despite the government jailing thousands of gang members, the drug trade continues.
Last March, a prominent Ecuadorian congressman unveiled the extent to which the Albanian mafia has permeated his country. Through a combination of violent activities, bribery, and the creation of front companies, the Albanian mafia has established an illicit operation worth millions. The operation centers around procuring cocaine at a discounted rate in Latin America and subsequently selling it in the European market.
Spanish customs agents and the national police have disclosed the seizure of the largest-ever cocaine haul in the country, weighing 9.5 tons. They found the drugs hidden within a banana shipment from Ecuador, located in a refrigerated container at the port of Algeciras. The find, which occurred on August 23, 2023, surpasses the previous record of 8.4 tons seized in 2018, also concealed in a banana cargo at the same port.
Authorities initiated the operation after receiving information in July 2023 regarding an incoming shipment of Colombian cocaine via Ecuador. The smugglers carried out their activities through an Ecuadorian banana exporting company, with intentions to distribute the illicit cargo across Europe, starting in Portugal.
The U.S. is currently grappling with drug use, particularly the use of xylazine, also known as “tranq” or “zombie drug.” This substance is particularly hazardous when combined with illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin, as it intensifies their effects and raises their street value. The U.S. has launched a National Response Plan to deal with the overdose pandemic caused by the drug crisis.
The plan includes educating health professionals on how to treat xylazine withdrawal and addiction, as well as the skin injuries it causes. Additionally, the plan aims to counter illegal imports from Mexico and explore alternatives to eradicate its usage.
The Lasso government initiated the imprisonment of gang leaders. Yet, the government’s efforts to manage the prisons, which are taken over by gangs, has been unsuccessful. Struggles for control within the prisons have resulted in a minimum of 14 mass killings since 2021. In the previous month, disturbances erupted in seven correctional facilities, resulting in the loss of 31 lives.
The Lasso administration declared several states of emergency in the past years, including night curfews in coastal provinces to reduce the violence. However, local gangs continue to appear to have the upper hand. Following a security cabinet meeting, Lasso stated, “We cannot deny that organized crime has permeated the state, political organizations, and society itself; it is a problem that has been brewing for more than a decade.”
Ecuadorian media has alleged that Lasso was inclined towards a potential arrangement that will give gang leaders indirect authority within the prisons. Lasso refuted any claims of ongoing negotiations with the gangs.
Politicians in Ecuador continue to be targets for criminal gangs alongside growing concerns among citizens, leading to migration towards North America. Ecuadorians are hopeful that the elections scheduled for this October will lead to a reduction in the influence of gang leaders and drug cartels that have gained significant control within the nation.
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