On the southwest coast of Ecuador, the gangs of drug traffickers operate with impunity and terrified inhabitants note the limits of the policy of outgoing president Daniel Noboa in terms of security, in this territory that has become a non-non-zone right.
In a command center near the Peruvian border, eight equatorial navies armed with rusty rifles are preparing to go on a patrol. Masked, they are about to enter the Cartels territory.
Puerto Bolivar has become a theater of clashes between rival drug cards in competition to export record quantities of cocaine from Colombia and Peru to Europe, North America and Asia.
In 2024, the Ecuadorian navies discovered around thirty bodies in the waters near the port, certain beheaded, other mutilated.
“There is no security”laments a resident who asks not to be appointed. “The country has been completely abandoned”.
During their four -hour patrol, the navies search a few fishing boats and find nothing. But they enter the Huayala estuary – dilapidated quays, concrete block buildings – the unit sets up, armed and raised rifles.
The navies scrutinally scrutinize boats and buildings. “It’s not a good idea to stay here for a long time”said one of them. “Someone could pull”.
– Silver extortion to have the right to fish –
Puerto Bolivar, one of the most important banana exporting ports in the world and commercial counter for seafood, has vital importance for the economy of Ecuador.
Soldiers patrolled in Pitahaya, in the Jambeli archipelago, in Ecuador, February 10, 2025 / Marvin Recinos / AFP
But today, the cranes that load containers and deep water docks are almost empty.
The prosperous affairs are the extortion of money, the kidnappings, the assassinations, the illegal fishing, the money laundering and the trafficking in cocaine.
Most residents are afraid to speak. “They could go so far as to kill me, me or my family”declares an old man.
However, a fisherman agreed to meet AFP provided they remain anonymous. Arrived at a safe meeting place, wearing a mask and a cap, he is determined to let people know what happens to his community and his country.
He recognizes pay a monthly fee to the gangs as well as 20% of his fish in exchange for his safety.
“If we do not know them, they sink our boats and fly our engines. Some fishermen have simply disappeared ”he says.
Others work for cartels because they pay more.
The fisherman lists the many ways whose gangs earn money, from gold extraction to fuel smuggling with Peru.
Some processes are simple: banana cargoes hiding cocaine sent to Europe, others more complicated, such as the purchase of fish that does not exist to whiten money.
The names of gangs and their chefs are known to all: Los Lobos (Les Loups), Los Lobos Box and Los Choneros.
The grip of gangs is displayed in broad daylight. One of the many brothels in the region is called « Napoles »the name of the former Colombian baron of drugs Pablo Escobar.
The army recognizes that the leading figures of the Mexican cartel Jalisco Nouvelle generation have local rooting. These chefs move and do business openly in the region.
– ‘Prosecutors do not continue’ –
President Daniel Noboa declared the state of emergency, proceeding to mediated arrests and sending the army to the streets and prisons controlled by the gangs. But in Puerto Bolivar, these measures had little impact.
A fisherman navigates in the leg archipelago, in the province of El Oro, in Ecuador, February 10, 2025 / Marvin Recinos / AFP
In this province, Mr. Noboa was ahead of 5 points by his left rival in the first round of the presidential election last Sunday and may not do better in the second round in April.
Evan Ellis, a security expert in Latin America and former counselor of the State Department, recognizes that army deployments have “Bringed the (gangs) to make a low profile to a certain extent”.
“But the fundamental problem of the circulation of drugs in the country and clashes for track control” of routing was not settled according to him.
The captain of ship Carlos Carrera admits that “The armed forces are not designed for the fight against organized crime and to directly ensure internal security. We can help the police “.
But according to the fisherman of Puerto Bolivar, the police do not always fulfill his role, “Prosecutors do not continue and judges do not judge”.
(tagstotranslate) Government