Ecuadorian police are engaged in a difficult struggle against a significant increase in drug-related crime and gang violence, with powerful criminal organizations at the center of the crisis. The nation has become a key transit point for cocaine, with drugs pouring in from neighboring Colombia and Peru, the world's two largest producers. These drugs are then smuggled onward with the help of domestic gangs that have connections to Mexican cartels and Albanian mafia groups.
This surge in criminal activity has had a devastating impact on public safety. Last year, Ecuador recorded one of the highest murder rates globally, with the interior ministry reporting over 9,200 fatalities. The BBC's Orla Guerin recently accompanied police on patrol, witnessing firsthand the challenges faced in confronting these well-armed gangs and their influence on the drug trade.
The country's strategic location makes it a prime corridor for international drug trafficking. The presence of sophisticated local gangs, empowered by international ties, exacerbates the violence and instability. Authorities are working to disrupt these networks and curb the flow of illicit substances, but the scale of the problem presents a formidable challenge.