[REVISION HISTORY]

Ecuador organized crime and security crisis

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-08-26 03:21 UTC → 2026-09-05 02:22 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Ecuador continues to face a severe surge in organized crime and gang violence, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency and recognize an internal armed conflict. Security operations have intensified across Guayaquil, Quito, and Manabí. In Guayaquil, the Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit (UNASE) recently conducted 15 raids, arresting 12 individuals for extorting professionals via WhatsApp, with one suspect allegedly directing activities from prison. In Quito, the ‘Plan Protección de Quito’ has targeted ‘Los Lobos’ gang properties in the San Roque and Cotocollao sectors, seizing weapons, drugs, and suspicious documents. In Manabí, joint police and military operations led to multiple arrests in Santa Ana and Bolívar, while authorities in Salinas detained suspects linked to a fatal shooting involving ‘Los Choneros’. The crisis has expanded into the maritime sector, where cartels have transformed local ports into cocaine-trafficking hubs. The U.S. military’s ‘Operation Southern Spear’ has targeted alleged narco-terrorists, resulting in the destruction of 67 vessels and over 220 deaths since last September. While the U.S. claims responsibility for many strikes, survivors and human rights advocates report unclaimed attacks that may be part of a covert CIA program. Protesters recently gathered at the National Assembly in Quito to demand justice for missing fishermen from vessels such as the ‘Fiorella’, following reports of drone attacks and physical abuse. International pressure has escalated as the U.S. Department of the Treasury and OFAC imposed sanctions on a network involving 15 targets linked to the Sinaloa, CJNG, ‘Los Choneros’, and ‘Los Lobos’ cartels. This includes the blocking of 10 fishing vessels, such as the ‘Todos Vuelven’, which allegedly provided logistics for cocaine shipments estimated at 30 to 40 tons monthly. Julio Javier Mero Franco has been identified as a key coordinator.

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