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…
New Security Force Corruption Cases in Ecuador Highlight an Old Problem
Recent cases have once again highlighted the criminal infiltration of Ecuador’s police and military personnel, adding to what is a…
Is the UAE’s Role as a Safe Haven for Traffickers Waning?
The recent arrest of Albanian cocaine trafficker Dritan Gjika in the United Arab Emirates after more than a decade of…
Will Costa Rica’s New Extradition Agreement with the US Curb Growing Drug Trafficking?
Costa Rica’s recent extradition agreement with the United States brings the growing drug-trafficking hub in line with other key nations…
Ecuador’s Illegal Mining Crackdowns Miss the Mark
Massive operations by Ecuador’s military against illegal mining following a historic massacre will do little to slow one of the…
Massacres, Alliances, and Betrayals: Inside the Gang War That Tore Ecuador’s Tiguerones Apart
About 20 armed members of the Tiguerones criminal group lurked in the hills on the outskirts of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s port…
Under the Radar: What Hundreds of Narco Sub Seizures Tell Us About Global Cocaine Routes
A near-record number of narco submarines were intercepted crossing the Atlantic and Pacific in 2024, with drug-laden vessels appearing in…
Illegal Arms Trafficking Is Ecuador’s Security Blind Spot
In recent years, Ecuador has been engulfed in a wave of violence driven by organized crime — a crisis fueled…