Ecuador’s Rising Crime Crisis: Drug Gangs and Violence Surge
Ecuador has seen a sharp increase in violent crime, driven largely by drug trafficking and gang activity. Once considered a relatively peaceful country in Latin America, Ecuador is now facing one of its worst security crises. Criminal organizations, often with ties to international drug cartels, have expanded their operations, turning coastal cities into battlegrounds. The port city of Guayaquil, in particular, has become a hotspot for drug-related violence, with frequent shootings, kidnappings, and bombings.
The government has struggled to control the chaos. Despite declaring states of emergency and deploying military forces to troubled areas, violence continues to escalate. Prisons, often under gang control, have become sites of brutal massacres. Inmates from rival groups clash regularly, resulting in hundreds of deaths in recent years.
The surge in crime has also had political consequences. Public frustration over security has weakened trust in authorities and pushed crime to the top of the political agenda. Some experts blame Ecuador’s geographic location—between major drug-producing nations—as a key factor. With limited resources and widespread corruption, law enforcement has found it difficult to tackle the powerful criminal networks behind the violence. The country now faces a long and difficult road to restoring peace and safety.