José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito”
José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito,” was the head of the Choneros, one of Ecuador’s most prominent criminal groups. He…
On the Radar: Criminal Shake-Ups in Ecuador and Venezuela as Colombia Votes on Security
Will the killing of Tren de Aragua founder Niño Guerrero have much impact on organized crime? Does the capture of…
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…
From Airstrikes to Cooperation: Will the ‘New Phase’ of Ecuador’s Drug War Deliver?
Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa says that, two years in, his organized crime crackdown is entering a “new phase” that combines…
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…