Massacres Surge as Gangs Atomize in Ecuador
A recent series of massacres in Ecuador is further evidence that more access to high-powered weapons, heightened impunity, and an…
The Rise and Fall of El Negro Willy, Ecuador’s Prison-Guard Mafia Boss
The first sign that armed gang members had invaded a TV station in Guayaquil came when two masked youths appeared…
Jailhouse Massacre in Ecuador Illustrates Rapid Criminal Evolution
A recent massacre inside Ecuador’s largest and most violent prison is an ominous sign that the country’s multiple criminal organizations…
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 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…