Ecuador Says Extortion Is Down. The Reality Is More Complicated.
It was time for after-school pickup at the San Francisco de Asís elementary school in downtown Guayaquil one recent afternoon…
What Does El Mencho’s Killing in Mexico Mean for LatAm Cocaine Flows?
The killing of Jalisco Cartel New Generation leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” in Mexico has raised questions about…
Colombia: Land of Opportunity — And Danger — for Ecuador’s Crime Bosses
A trend of Ecuadorian criminal leaders turning up in neighboring Colombia underscores how the country serves as a refuge —…
What Is Behind the Murders of Transit Officials in Ecuador?
A recent wave of violence against traffic authorities in Ecuador exposes the importance of these entities for criminal groups looking…
Chone Killers
The Chone Killers have embodied the mutation of Ecuador’s organized crime landscape from low-level street gangs to sophisticated, extremely violent…