Dated: 14/04/2023
Dear Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
Dhaka
Organized criminal activities in Ecuador are, as is known, frequent. Gang-related violence and deadly crime have been on the increase in the Andean nation in recent years, making it one of the most murderous countries in Latin America. According to several sources including the BBC, a group of thirty gunmen killed nine persons a few days ago. Many are killed at the hands of organized criminal groups in Ecuador each year. Organized criminals —along with the killings of non-armed civilians—are killed by fighting with each other. Also, organized criminals carry out other criminal activities in the South American country including drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion and threatening local businesses and forcing them to pay them regular fees for their protection.
It is pertinently notable that Ecuador, which has long provided incentives for transnational organized crime groups to exploit the country as a center of drug transshipment and a logistical safe haven, has a number of strong organized groups including the Chone Killers, the Choneros and or Los Lobos that play the main role in the rising organized crimes. But drug trafficking is the main activity of the organized groups of Ecuador. They transship drugs from several Latin American countries including Colombia and Peru mainly to European countries and the United States. According to available sources including America’s Quarterly, roughly 33 percent of the cocaine seized in Ecuador in 2021 was destined for European markets. Among the regions, the crisis of organized crimes is acute in Esmeraldas and the port city of Guayaquil — the gateway of Ecuador to the world.
Ecuador has made some efforts to deal with organized groups. Consequently, Ecuador has succeeded in tackling certain manifestations of violence in recent years. But the government’s efforts mostly rely on scant law-enforcement based measures. Moreover, there are many political, governance based, transnational and other challenges that make it difficult to bring organized crimes in the country under control. Some of the Ecuadorian organized groups have close links with the transnational drug cartels of Colombia, Peru and Balkan countries and there are links between the organized groups and the powerful elites of Ecuador. Corruption among leaders and officials, among other causes, is an important cause that puts a hindrance to successfully fighting organized crimes.
Definitely, it is difficult to fully curb organized crimes in Ecuador. But it is desired that the government makes efforts to reduce organized criminal activities at least to a tolerable level. A renewed commitment among local, national and regional authorities to foster interagency collaboration and cross-border cooperation is imperative to fight organized crimes. But criminal gang members also need to get the opportunity to come back to social lives, given that they are willing to do so, and the Ecuadorian government needs to address the underlying economic and social causes of organized crimes. Providing economic opportunities may be helpful to successfully fight organized crimes in the country.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. A
City D
Country X
Email: x@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER: The views/opinions expressed are those of the LTE authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Magazine or its editorial team.
