Map: Military Strikes Target Complex Criminal Landscape on Colombia-Ecuador Border
Ecuador’s armed forces, backed by the United States military, conducted airstrikes on camps on March 6 that they claim belonged…
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…
Ecuador’s Official Security Claims Belie Reality
Ecuador’s government marked two years in office by trumpeting the results of its hardline anti-crime policies. But its claims of…
How a New Port Created Ecuador’s Latest Criminal Epicenter
It was around 3 p.m. on July 19 when a young man stumbled into a small billiards hall in the…
Top Leader of Ecuador’s Lobos Gang Arrested in Spain
You’ve probably heard of Fito, Ecuador’s most famous gang boss, who was recently extradited to the United States. But authorities…
US Foreign Terrorist Designations in Latin America: An Interactive Map
The United States has intensified its tactics for fighting organized crime in Latin America, including designating various Latin American criminal…
Fito: The Rise and Fall of Ecuador’s Most Wanted Crime Boss
José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias ‘Fito’ Name José Adolfo Macías Villamar Alias Fito Country Ecuador Criminal Group The Choneros Location…
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…
The Fall of Fito: What It Means — and Doesn’t — for Ecuador’s Underworld
Ecuadorian security forces captured the country’s most notorious criminal leader in a crucial — though largely symbolic — win in…