Ecuador police confront rising drug crime, gang violence and corruption

The BBC accompanied a contingent of Ecuadorian police on a routine patrol in the city of Guayaquil on Tuesday, illustrating the heightened security measures the nation has adopted in response to a sharp rise in drug‑related crime. Officials say the operation is part of a broader strategy to curb the flow of cocaine through Ecuador’s coastal corridors, which have become increasingly attractive to transnational trafficking networks.

Police data released last month indicated a 45 percent increase in cocaine seizures compared with the same period in 2022, while violent incidents linked to drug gangs have risen by roughly one‑third, prompting the interior ministry to allocate additional resources to frontline units. Officers on the BBC‑documented patrol described confronting “well‑armed groups” in densely populated neighborhoods and noted the use of rapid‑response teams, aerial surveillance and coordinated checkpoints along major highways. The surge is attributed to Ecuador’s strategic location between major South American producers and North American markets, as well as recent disruptions in neighboring countries that have redirected trafficking routes through its ports.

The broadcast aims to provide an on‑the‑ground perspective of the challenges facing Ecuadorian law‑enforcement agencies as they contend with the expanding drug trade. Authorities hope that increased visibility and international attention will bolster cooperation with regional partners and support ongoing efforts to restore public safety and disrupt organized crime operations.