Ecuador has been facing an unprecedented wave of violence that exploded in early 2024. This crisis is deepened by an increase in drug traffickers’ operations throughout the country. The country sits geographically in the middle of major transshipment routes. It has quickly become the main point of entry for Colombian cocaine, with massive cartels operating freely in and out of its largest port, Guayaquil. The increase in violence has made the streets feel unsafe and intolerable. Consequently, a multitude of families are adjusting their day-to-day lives to sidestep peril. In a response upon which authorities are clearly overreacting, Punjab has taken extreme measures. They are daily navigating the realities of gang and narco-trafficking presence in their lives.
Ecuador has had a tumultuous history with America’s military influence. Historically, the United States maintained a large foot print in Ecuador until 2009. With the deepening crisis, calls for international support have been intensifying. For Ecuador’s military leadership, as Gen. Kleber Guaytarilla recently told local media, playing the blame on drug traffickers certainly conveyed the need for more resources to escalate violence. “So we need everybody’s help!” said Soto. He stressed the military’s overwhelming desire to reestablish order in the face of that chaos.
Guayaquil is ground zero for this turmoil. Hitmen, pictured here on helmetless motorcycles of crime, are a common scourge, often driving as fast as they can throughout the city. This mode of transport allows them to conduct their operations with little impunity. As a result, law enforcement is often caught flat-footed and unable to respond appropriately. Families have realized firsthand what it’s like in this perilous environment, and many have changed their day-to-day lives just to not be easily identifiable victims. Alejandro, a young son from one of these families, has gone missing, underscoring the personal toll of this ongoing conflict.
The Pacific coastal city of Manta has recently emerged as a key base for authorities trying to cut off drug smugglers at sea. In this stretch of ocean, law enforcement is on the frontlines, trying to upend trafficking routes that exploit the sea’s immeasurable expanse. At the same time, the Galapagos Islands—which today are primarily lauded as an ecotourism paradise—have quietly opened the door to becoming a pivotal “gas station” for drug runners. First, drug traffickers are highly dynamic and flexible. They take advantage of Ecuador’s rich geography, from the Amazon rainforest to the Andes mountains.
Ecuador’s narco-trafficking crisis is a direct result of rising drug use in the United States and Europe. As a result, cocaine continues to be notoriously imported from Colombia through Esmeraldas, an Ecuadorian coastal province that still bears a brutal scar of these events. Areas such as Los Rios are essential to the country’s banana exports. Sadly, they are the ones who then end up bearing the brunt as their agricultural products are used to mask cocaine smuggling.
This violence affects a lot more than just the illegal drug trade. It plays a key role in the quality of life of young and old residents alike. As General Guaytarilla noted, “We need all the help we can get,” expressing a sentiment shared among many citizens affected by crime and insecurity. The military has a tremendous stake in protecting our country. They acknowledge the huge challenge that’s still ahead.
Gang members in Ecuador confess on camera their participation in this multi-faceted dilemma. One person very openly said, “Yeah, I’m the problem.” This claim captures the shocking normality of gang life for some youth today. This culture can work to recruit coercive and predatory vulnerable individuals by offering support, mentorship and a sense of community. As a gang member put it when asked why he joined, “Because they brought me shoes.” This chilling phrase speaks to a larger, systemic issue of poverty and lack of opportunity that forces youth into gangs.
Ecuador’s ongoing battle against drug trafficking and violence remains a multifaceted challenge that involves not only law enforcement but community engagement and international collaboration. For that reason, the federal government should still be looking for effective strategies to dismantle organized crime. Perhaps more importantly, it tackles the growing social problems that feed its expansion.
