Arrest of Leaders of Ecuador’s Tiguerones Could Further Fracture Gang
The leader of the Tiguerones, one of Ecuador’s most powerful and violent criminal groups and an important link in the…
Ecuador Is Coca Producer Country, Says President Noboa
Ecuador’s president announced unprecedented coca cultivation figures this week, highlighting the country’s role as a fledgling cocaine producer, though uncertainty…
Why Do Latin American Governments Keep Betting on States of Emergency?
Several Latin American countries have recently declared or prolonged states of emergency aimed at combating organized crime, even though the…
El Salvador Tops Security Perceptions Survey as Chile, Ecuador Decline
Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be the region with the worst citizen perception of security according to an…
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…