The Rise and Fall of Washo, Durán’s Criminal Puppetmaster
In the early hours of August 14, Ecuador’s police and prosecutors deployed one of the most significant security operations of…
The Anatomy of Violence in Durán
Homicides, many of them in public areas and with firearms, are a manifestation of increasing conflict between criminal groups in…
From Gangs to Gatekeepers: Criminal Capital in Durán
Durán’s street gangs are vilified for their current role in violence and criminality in the municipality, but their relationship with…
The Web of Illicit Economies Ensnaring Durán, Ecuador
At the heart of Durán’s transformation into Ecuador’s epicenter of organized crime lies a complex web of interconnected criminal economies.…
Kings, Killers, and Cabras: Profiling Durán’s Criminal Players
Durán’s criminal underworld is dominated by the fierce rivalry between the Latin Kings and the Chone Killers. Their differences —…
Tapestry of Crime and Complicity: Mapping Durán’s Power Players
A multitude of actors play a role in security in Durán, including political, bureaucratic, and economic elites, civil society, and…
A Short History of Durán, Ecuador
Durán was a sparsely populated, remote, agricultural outpost of the municipality of Guayaquil before the completion of the national railway…
Durán, Ecuador’s New Crime Capital
Durán, a municipality of over 300,000 inhabitants in Ecuador’s coastal Guayas province, has undergone a dramatic transformation from a thriving…
Ecuador Gangs Target Prison Chiefs to Regain Control
The murder of the head of Ecuador’s largest men’s prison appears to be the latest act of violence by prison…
How Ecuador’s Criminals Are Taking Advantage of Private Security Firms
Private security companies have surged in Ecuador as crime has intensified, but mounting evidence of criminal infiltration in the industry…