Ecuador's Descent Into Gang Violence

Situated between the two biggest producers of cocaine in the world, Peru and Colombia, Ecuador is saturated with transnational drug routes, consumed by criminal gangs vying for control. Following the escape of Los Choneros cartel leader Adolfo Macias from prison in Guayaquil on January 8th, President Daniel Noboa declared a national state of emergency. Anticipating a spike in criminal activity, the emergency was extended by 30 days to last until 7th April, 2024.

With 7,872 murders last year, and 391 violent deaths in January 2024 alone, the past few years have seen the most gang violence in Ecuador’s history (Al-Jazeera, 2024). To address this escalation, Noboa has implemented new regulations intended to give more control to security forces and to allow for an armed intervention. But armed suppression of the cartels is unlikely to quell the surge in organised crime, which is rooted in the longstanding insecurity that plagues Ecuador. The country is on the brink of slipping into a quasi-perpetual state of conflict with despotism looming large, and a militarised approach would only contribute to the abiding feeling of insecurity.

Ecuador’s plight is not isolated, but is intricately tied to the global cocaine market. As consumption rises and demand escalates, Ecuador’s strategic ports serve as vital points for trafficking. Despite Covid-19, there has been little impact on enduring patterns and the worldwide demand for cocaine has only risen with global production going up by 35% from 2020-21, and most likely continuing to skyrocket as cartels take control of more territory (UN, 2023). Limited monitoring and physical inspections have left maritime routes open, solidifying Ecuador’s status as a crucial transshipment point for exports to make their way to their largest market: the United States. 

But global cocaine demand is not the sole driving force behind Ecuador’s descent into gang violence. The nation’s woes can be attributed to its long standing economic struggles and the deep seated institutionalised corruption and infiltration, which has weakened the state, and over the years summated and culminated in the crisis that country faces today. Bribery has penetrated the judicial system and security forces, with people in positions of authority being accused of facilitating illicit activities.

Events such as the assassination of presidential candidate and long standing anti-corruption proponent Fernando Villevicencio last year, prisons being largely controlled by criminal gangs, shootings in broad daylight, and the staff of a TV broadcast being taken hostage whilst live in January, reveal Ecuador’s inability to catch up to cartels, scrambling to protect its population. The formal declaration of armed internal conflict against 22 gangs, now labelled as terrorist organisations, echoes the aggressive tactics employed by governments in El Salvador and Mexico to curb kidnapping, homicide rates, and gang activity. But this approach risks trampling on civil liberties and normalising violence, further aggravating the nation’s instability.

More than half of Ecuador’s working population is part of the informal sector of the economy; the lack of labour laws result in negligible benefits and unfavourable working conditions (INEC, 2023). Furthermore, joblessness and poverty are important factors in the sustenance of cartels, which extort and recruit civilians with no prospect of employment.

The grip of criminal gangs on Ecuador is pervasive, driving the rate of immigration up, as an unusual amount of people are seeking refuge abroad. Heightened insecurity coupled with the post pandemic rise in the worldwide demand of cocaine has allowed trafficking gangs more fertile ground to flourish, establishing Ecuador as one among many South and Central American countries now wrestling with severe gang violence.

Sources

Alexander, Inigo. “‘A Bad Chapter’: Tracing the Origins of Ecuador’s Rise in Gang Violence.” Al Jazeera, February 14, 2024.

Correal, Annie, and Federico Rios. “Terrorised by Gangs, Ecuador Embraces the Hard-Line ‘Noboa Way.’” The New York Times, February 7, 2024.

“A Surge in Crime and Violence Has Ecuador Reeling.” Council on Foreign Relations. Accessed March 24, 2024

“The world is hungry for cocaine and happy to buy It. but think of the ravaged countries that pay the price | Roberto Saviano.” The Guardian, February 9, 2024.

France 24. “Ecuador: A New Nerve Center for Global Drug Trade.” France 24, November 23, 2022. 

Image source: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/ecuador-declares-internal-armed-conflict-gang-violence-escalates