Ecuador criminal networks reach up to 80,000 members

Criminal organizations in Ecuador have evolved from small gangs into massive networks with an estimated 41,000 to 80,000 armed members. This scale potentially exceeds the size of the country's military and approaches the number of police officers.

Major groups such as Los Lobos and Los Choneros are central to this expansion, with combined memberships estimated at approximately 23,000. These organizations have transformed Ecuador from a transit zone into a strategic hub for international cocaine trafficking, forming alliances with the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, Balkan networks, and the ‘Ndrangheta.

The criminal economy impacts the national GDP significantly, with estimated annual losses between $10 billion and $12 billion. These losses stem from illegal mining, which moves roughly $1.3 billion annually, as well as smuggling, human trafficking, and hydrocarbon theft. In response, the Anti-Mafia Law seeks to target the logistics and financial liquidity of these groups by increasing penalties and facilitating the seizure of assets.