Ecuador struggles to contain organized crime and illegal mining

Ecuador continues to face a severe security crisis characterized by high homicide rates and the expansion of organized crime. Despite President Daniel Noboa declaring an ‘internal armed conflict’ and designating 22 criminal groups as terrorist organizations, violence remains a critical issue. The country is grappling with the rise of cocaine trafficking, gang fragmentation, and a loss of state control over prisons.

In the Amazon region, criminal groups such as Los Lobos and Los Choneros have expanded their influence, often shifting focus toward illegal mining. This criminal activity is bolstered by corruption within the military and police forces, where informants provide intelligence to gangs to evade operations. While the government has embraced a militarized security approach and coordinated with the United States for strikes against traffickers, critics argue that a lack of financial intelligence and failure to target the illicit financial flows of politicians and businessmen allow these groups to persist.

International cooperation has increased, with the United States designating several Ecuadorian gangs, including the Choneros and Los Lobos, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains under scrutiny as the nation struggles to curb both narcotics trafficking and the growing threat of illegal mining.