On the front line of Ecuador’s drugs war, police fight gangs, guns and corruption
Police Battle Organized Crime in Ecuador’s Drug War
Constantvpn.com – Within the turbulent streets of Durán, a city plagued by narcotics trafficking and competing criminal organizations, Police Captain Jean Carlos Bustamante faces a multifaceted threat. His adversaries extend beyond the violent gang members who murder and occasionally dismember their competitors. The Captain also confronts corruption lurking within his own ranks and the broader political system.
“We have many, many bad people inside our unit, inside the state, inside politics,” he explains. “We have many, many guys that are corrupt. They are in the pay of the gangs.”
Only those positioned directly beside him earn his complete confidence—his carefully selected squad. At thirty-four years old, Bustamante stands as the most senior member of this group, carrying himself with the disciplined posture of a former special forces operative. As evening approaches, he guides his unit through a struggling neighborhood where windows remain protected by metal bars and residents keep silent out of fear.
This territory falls under the dominion of Los Aguilas, known in English as The Eagles. When questioned about the consequences for locals who dare to oppose these criminal organizations, the Captain responds simply: “They kill them.” This brutal reality explains why community members rarely speak out against the gangs.
Weapons and Warfare
His destination is an empty building where he suspects firearms have been concealed, since armed criminals typically avoid storing weapons in their residences. The team positions themselves along the wall, weapons drawn, moving in close formation. A battering ram breaks through the entrance, revealing two handguns—one showing signs of rust while the other remains operational—alongside ammunition for an assault rifle.
The Captain expresses satisfaction with the outcome. “The first reason is because we are safe,” he notes. “The second is that there are two guns less for the gangs.” Yet this represents merely a minor triumph in an ongoing conflict. He acknowledges that criminal organizations possess “many weapons and much more money than the state.” The dangers are personal; he has mourned three close companions lost to gang violence.
While he conquered his own fears years ago, his parents remain anxious. “My mum says ‘be careful, maybe you can die there,'” he shares. “My dad calls all the time and asks ‘my son, are you good? Tell me that you are good.'”
A Global Drug Corridor
A clear connection exists—measured in currency and shattered lives—between Durán’s backstreets and major European cities like London. Approximately seventy percent of cocaine destined for Europe and the United States passes through Ecuador, according to President Daniel Noboa. The narcotics flow from neighboring Colombia and Peru, the world’s two largest producers.
Domestic criminal organizations, connected to Mexican cartels and Albanian mafia networks, facilitate the smuggling operations. They exploit Ecuador’s inadequate border security, insufficiently funded police forces, and extensive Pacific coastline. What once served as a tranquil South American tourist destination has transformed into a violent zone within ten years.
Last year recorded one of the highest murder rates globally, with over nine thousand two hundred fatalities according to the interior ministry. This occurred despite President Noboa’s aggressive two-year campaign against organized crime. Critics argue the strategy produced unintended consequences. While major crime leaders were captured, the resulting power vacuum caused gangs to both fragment and proliferate.
Street-Level Operations
Many residents believe victory remains elusive. Nevertheless, Captain Bustamante continues his mission. During another patrol, he observes back alleys from above using drone technology. Three individuals moving near a playground catch his attention—described as “micro-traffickers” caught in the act. These street-level dealers sell minute quantities rather than bulk kilos.
Within moments, the team locates the suspects at their residence. The battering ram appears once more, and officers enter the kitchen where a middle-aged woman objects while a young girl cries. Working by flashlight due to power outages, they search through wardrobes and lift mattresses. Behind a window upstairs, a young suspect is discovered and apprehended. Two additional suspects are handcuffed in another room.
All three deny involvement in drug distribution. Nearby, the Captain discovers small paper packets containing “H,” an addictive heroin mixture sold locally for one dollar per packet. One suspect faces charges and could receive a five-year sentence if convicted. Prosecutors freed the remaining two suspects, a common outcome according to senior officers.
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