Ecuador’s Descent into Chaos Highlights Power of Narco Traffickers

Once touted as one of Latin America's most prosperous and peaceful countries, Ecuador has become a haven for criminal gangs and the violence that comes with them.

Armed gunmen point their weapons at presenter Jose Luis Calderon during a live broadcast inside the TC Television station in Guayaquil, Ecuador on January 29. Source

When a group of armed men stormed the TC Television station in Guayaquil on January 29, the violence that had come to engulf the South American country was broadcast live to the world. Brandishing firearms, grenades, and explosives on air, 13 men took control of the station, taking more than 200 staff as hostages until police stormed the building. A series of coordinated attacks that day killed two police officers and resulted in the kidnappings of seven others. At the same time, criminals detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the cities of Cuenca, Los Rios, Guayaquil, Quevado, and Quito. Other regions reported vehicles being set alight, and in some instances, police removed dynamite and gas cylinders from the burning vehicles before they exploded. 

These very public displays of violence caused Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa to designate 22 gangs operating in the country as terrorist groups. He also declared that his country was at "war" and instituted a 60-day state of "internal armed conflict" that included curfews, security cordons and roadblocks, and expanded police and military operations. Despite these efforts, Ecuador's government is struggling to restore order and maintain its hold on power as poverty and crime rates continue to climb. This comes as global narcotics traffickers, in conjunction with the Ecuador’s powerful gangs, extend their influence over the country.

Images released by police after storming the TV station. Source

Killings & Kidnappings

This April, Ecuadorians will vote in a referendum on whether to approve a range of enhanced security measures aimed at curbing the kind of violent criminal activity that reportedly killed 391 people in January alone. These measures include significant changes to the country's constitution that have stricter gun control measures near prisons, increased sentences for individuals convicted of gang-related crimes and expanded powers for police and military personnel. 2023 was the deadliest year in the country's recent history, with 7,872 murders reported that year. Once touted as among the most peaceful countries in Latin America, this sixfold increase in violent deaths has come as a shock to Ecuador.