Former Daily Mail crime editor Stephen Wright has detailed his "most dangerous assignment," a month-long investigation into Albanian cocaine trafficking operations in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The findings were discussed on a recent episode of the "On The Case" podcast.
Wright visited the South American port city in late 2022 to examine its connections to the cocaine trade reaching Britain. Over the preceding decade, Albanian organized crime groups had partnered with Ecuadorian cartels to use the city as a major transit point for exporting drugs to Europe. Cocaine produced in neighboring Colombia and Bolivia is transported to Guayaquil for shipment. Changes in Ecuador's residency laws had reportedly made it easier for Albanian nationals to obtain passports and establish themselves in the country, often operating under the guise of legitimate businesses.
These front companies facilitated the export of goods, providing cover for drug trafficking activities through the ports. Guayaquil's ascent as a key hub in the global cocaine supply chain has been accompanied by a surge in violence and corruption.
Wright described the constant tension during his fieldwork, noting the pervasive danger in Guayaquil. "Life is cheap over there and you don't know who you have potentially upset," he told the podcast host, Alex Matthews. He highlighted the stark difference in the cost of contract killings compared to the UK, suggesting a journalist could be a target for a significantly lower price than a judge in Britain.
During his time in Guayaquil, Wright conducted interviews with a local gang member, a state prosecutor, and Ecuador's national anti-narcotics chief. He also spoke with a former drug dealer in Brighton who had worked with the Albanian gangs to understand the complete supply chain.
One interview with Pablo Ramirez, then Ecuador's national anti-narcotics chief, left Wright feeling uneasy. Ramirez inquired about Wright's hotel, a question the journalist found suspicious and deflected. Wright's suspicions were later confirmed when Ramirez was arrested, charged, and convicted in relation to organized crime. He was jailed for nine years and four months in November 2024 for granting favors to a convicted drug trafficker while heading the country's prison service. Ramirez was initially arrested in December 2023.
Wright explained that the Albanian gangs brought financial resources and international connections, while Ecuadorian cartels provided essential local knowledge. This included the ability to bribe port workers and manipulate the loading of shipping containers. He spoke with an individual identified as a member of the Latin Kings gang, who agreed to an interview anonymously. This partnership allowed Albanian crime groups to gain a foothold in the region.
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