How did Ecuador descend into gang violence? | BBC News

[@markscarupa6201]

In 2015 I rented a car with my wife and two children and toured around Ecuador for two weeks. I never for a moment felt unsafe. The change has been dramatic and tragic.

[@shonwamcfeckerty7363]

Gang stuff was defos popping over there them times man

[@1321richard]

You were just lucky. Crime, poverty and corruption have always been a big problem

[@RunningTree]

As someone who has been in a relationship with an Ecuadorian for five years the basic layout of the situation is that the Mexican cartels are expanding throughout South America and making partnerships with local gains in the regions they expand too. The Albanian mafia controls the export hub of Guayaquil, which is used to smuggle cocaine to the United States and Europe. The local gangs have been battling with the Albanians there for export control. The Mexican gangs are paying local ones in firearms which they smuggle from the United States very easily as it’s easy to go south with whatever you want. Drugs are brought into the country via boat and plane. The people fleeing from Ecuador are trying to escape a conflict which we are financing and arming, only to be treated as gang members themselves on arrival. If you generalize all Latin American people as drug dealers you are doing nothing but unnecessarily spreading dismay through your willful ignorance of the situation. The new president is the son of a man who owes the Ecuadorian people about half of the entire nation’s national debt. Before his recent election, Ecuador was known as a region of relative stability and safety compared to many surrounding nations. I expect no one learn anything from this situation though, as at least here in the United States people tend to use situations to justify their pre-held beliefs rather than to learn anything and adjust our own policies which are fueling these situations.

[@SanFranciscoFatboy]

right on :) stay away from drugs and be a tourist..... i just returned from 3 weeks in Manabi and Bahia/San Vicente/Canoa beach area and it was wonderful :). ecuador people are very friendly and a pleasure to be around

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@shonwamcfeckerty7363not nearly to the same extent at all

[@CantHandleThisCanYa]

They let the druglords live. That's the fundamental mistake.

[@MrYossarianuk]

If prohibition did not exist there would be no drug lords. Without prohibition there would never have been crack or spice , etc

[@Zurvan101]

​@@MrYossarianuksome drugs are so socially destructive that they should never be legal, cocaine is one of those drugs.

[@reecep1457]

@@Zurvan101 Then the trade will always exist. As long as there is money to be made then new druglords will pop up, richer and more violent than the last. The war on drugs has been a massive failure and decriminalisation / legalisation of drugs is the only answer.

[@greyfells2829]

​@@Zurvan101spoken like someone that doesn't know anything about cocaine. It's essentially just stronger coffee. Models love it because it doesn't ruin your body unless seriously abused. It's no more dangerous than alcohol.

[@Zurvan101]

@@reecep1457 then you will see the corportisation of the dangerous drug trade and the compleat degeneration of society.

[@Ghostwarrior-wc1ri]

It’s called corruption..

[@hemenpeshmerga8098]

You just summed up a nearly 7 min vid😂😂

[@shonwamcfeckerty7363]

@@hemenpeshmerga8098he couldn’t sum up a maths equation pal, L take 👎

[@agustinenzoa4447]

Ecuadorians are extremely and unbelievably CORRUPT. That is why it is a FAILED STATE.

[@usdepartmentofthetreasury489]

You forgot socialism but it’s almost the same

[@public.public]

"How did Ecuador descend into gang violence?" A distinct lack of Judge Dredd

[@Avaricumstudios]

I am the Law !!!

[@jim23mac]

@@Avaricumstudios Court's adjourned!!

[@_ArsNova]

Leaving the drug kingpins alive was their fatal mistake.

[@hadara69]

Oh, you must be a U.S. Conservative. Trump lies to you, dumbass.

[@benfreiler4054]

I get on some level wanting the US out via closing bases, but stopping cooperation with the DEA altogether? That was just a stupid move

[@curiositycloset2359]

You realise where these drug gangs came from?

[@suspicious2delicious]

Over 70% of the drugs goes to Europe so it came from them@@curiositycloset2359

[@VisualiseTheFun]

​@@curiositycloset2359lol it's so easy to blame others, hard to take accountability for your own actions. Please explain why Ecuador is America's fault.

[@billcarson818]

@@VisualiseTheFun Especially in south america its often both. Its no secret that the US sees south america as its own back yard and intervened over 50 times there the past decades. So to ignore that would be equally easy and wrong.

[@santiagopaute6787]

Colombia has been more than 20 years with US military bases there and they are still providing cocain for all entire world

[@RunningTree]

As someone who has been in a relationship with an Ecuadorian for five years the basic layout of the situation is that the Mexican cartels are expanding throughout South America and making partnerships with local gains in the regions they expand too. The Albanian mafia controls the export hub of Guayaquil, which is used to smuggle cocaine to the United States and Europe. The local gangs have been battling with the Albanians there for export control. The Mexican gangs are paying local ones in firearms which they smuggle from the United States very easily as it’s easy to go south with whatever you want. Drugs are brought into the country via boat and plane. The people fleeing from Ecuador are trying to escape a conflict which we are financing and arming, only to be treated as gang members themselves on arrival. If you generalize all Latin American people as drug dealers you are doing nothing but unnecessarily spreading dismay through your willful ignorance of the situation. The new president is the son of a man who owes the Ecuadorian people about half of the entire nation’s national debt. Before his recent election, Ecuador was known as a region of relative stability and safety compared to many surrounding nations. I expect no one learn anything from this situation though, as at least here in the United States people tend to use situations to justify their pre-held beliefs rather than to learn anything and adjust our own policies which are fueling these situations.

[@proselytizingorthodoxpente8304]

Correa told the US to leave Ecuador. They did. And tens of thousands of Ecuadorians ended up leaving with them.

[@Joe-ij6of]

I’d rather have a dozen Ecuadorians as neighbors over one Correa as a neighbor, that’s for sure

[@santiagopaute6787]

Colombia has been with US army bases for long time and still has provided the drugs for the entire world, American bases are not the solution, is the bankers and politicians corrupt there

[@StarSprangledBanner]

US's revenge?

[@proselytizingorthodoxpente8304]

@@StarSprangledBanner What, You think the US told Ecuadorians to leave?

[@--T_T-]

​@@StarSprangledBanner😮

[@bird6691]

Very frustrating. I've never met someone from Ecuador who wasn't extremely friendly

[@shonwamcfeckerty7363]

I have pal, he was armed. Nothing against ecuadorians but the one av met was actually armed.

[@agustinenzoa4447]

just out of convenience. Wait till you turn around and get backstabbed.

[@bird6691]

@@agustinenzoa4447 sure. How many stabbing incidents happen in nightclubs in Hongdae in Korea which is the only place I've met people from Ecuador? I'll wait

[@RunningTree]

As someone who has been in a relationship with an Ecuadorian for five years the basic layout of the situation is that the Mexican cartels are expanding throughout South America and making partnerships with local gains in the regions they expand too. The Albanian mafia controls the export hub of Guayaquil, which is used to smuggle cocaine to the United States and Europe. The local gangs have been battling with the Albanians there for export control. The Mexican gangs are paying local ones in firearms which they smuggle from the United States very easily as it’s easy to go south with whatever you want. Drugs are brought into the country via boat and plane. The people fleeing from Ecuador are trying to escape a conflict which we are financing and arming, only to be treated as gang members themselves on arrival. If you generalize all Latin American people as drug dealers you are doing nothing but unnecessarily spreading dismay through your willful ignorance of the situation. The new president is the son of a man who owes the Ecuadorian people about half of the entire nation’s national debt. Before his recent election, Ecuador was known as a region of relative stability and safety compared to many surrounding nations. I expect no one learn anything from this situation though, as at least here in the United States people tend to use situations to justify their pre-held beliefs rather than to learn anything and adjust our own policies which are fueling these situations. The Ecuadorian people are some of the most kind and generally hospitable people on the planet, and allowing ourselves to pay for their destruction while denying the civilians their humanity is purely evil.

[@JuanBarberis]

Friendly does not mean: educated, responsible, socially conscious, etc. This is the root-cause: viveza criolla by the 99%

[@hshshghdxfhxhsvhxd-jz1dt]

Excellent announcer say very understanding.

[@heathercrass703]

Why is BBC reporting so much better than CNN?? I watched CNN reports and still had zero clue what was going on. BBC explained so clearly. Thank you!

[@imjustthere9343]

Its because you should never just watch one news source, its called censor ship. only showing what they want you to see. when you see something do a bit more research into it dont believe everything you see.

[@rb239rtr]

CNN does talk, not news

[@TerryCook-t5f]

In my country, I often go to convenience store at 1 am.🤣

[@_ArsNova]

All elements of Ecuadorian society should be mobilizing to fight the gangs, or they will take over.

[@jonatand2045]

Same as always. Drug prohibition gave the gangs so much money and therefore power.

[@danielson4962]

They make them illegal so they can keep prices high and keep the industry propped up. Governments are complicit in the crime

[@larrypicard8802]

The "armed men" were teenagers hired by the cartels. The danger portrayed here is way overblown. I live in Ecuador and most of the country lives their daily lives in peace.

[@BH-pl7vg]

The situation is very real in the coast, even though it’s only a fraction of the country it’s still very significant. Not over blown at all.

[@TRex-dd4ze]

Yes, it is not as though all people are attacked all days, but living behind walls, staying indoors at night, crime concerns when out on the streets, etc is a daily thing. This BBC report is bias. The BBC has an agenda. His list of causes missed out some big points on purpose, included other points that are irrelevant or selective etc

[@marlenefunk2137]

Not exactly accurate. The cause of Ecuador's increase in crime is directly related to the continuing rapidly increasing drug needs by the U.S.(40%) and Europe (40%). When the world found out about the mini subs, Colombia had to find a new way to ship drugs. Ecuador's ports are the only other possibility. And as you might have noticed, many packages are also addressed for specific airlines. It is no secret exactly where the cocaine is going. Ecuador's dead bodies, including children, are what happens when someone gets in the way of the cartels path to the ports. The dead bodies are caused by drug addiction, not a problem in Ecuador. Many countries worldwide have no control over their drug addiction and the unhappier people get with their country, the drug addition increases rapidly. Prior to last week "lethal force" was not allowed in Ecuador. Not much use in carrying a gun if you cannot shoot it. Now it is a whole new ball game, especially for young gang members who never thought they could possibly be shot. The gangs are decreasing rapidly. President Noboa is exactly what was needed in Ecuador and he obviously knows what he is doing and it is working. He has the total support of his people..

[@MelGibsonFan]

For whatever reason, when it comes to addiction, we don't blame and punish addicts but instead we blame and punish dealers/suppliers (rightfully so). Yet you guys in an attempt to assuage guilt or whatever, reverse blame and turn the addicts into victimizers and the thousands of young men readily available to assault and murder for drug gangs in your society into innocent victims of opportunity. Ecuador, like a lot of Latin America has it's fair share of drug usage, political corruption and poverty. Nations like the US, AUS, UK, GER, NZ, etc. have readily available opioid substitution programs. We are safe, stable, we have stronger currencies and more people with more disposable income so drugs will fetch higher prices in large markets. This is an accident of happenstance. More governments in LatAm need to get their shit together, stop blaming addicts in stable western societies, start taking accountability, do like Bukele if you have to.

[@garafanvou6586]

Gee. The country intermediate between the two largest suppliers of illicit drugs that inconsequently adopted the USD and has a large european tourism is in no way influenced by global demands of illicit drugs… Foreign powers dump their problems on smaller nations and turn a blind eye to the consequences. Great analysis, just do what El Salvador does and add to the terror. Go back to your tea and biscuits and wait in your dotage…

[@garafanvou6586]

@@MelGibsonFanhahahhahahahaha

[@otimio]

Your saying Ecuadoranos do not know how to control and govern thier country

[@garafanvou6586]

@@otimio No govt but they have your USD Thanks to your taxes

[@Panster7]

Holy shit. The list just keeps going

[@Dingdong3696oyvey]

I live in Guayaquil. It’s not so bad.

[@BH-pl7vg]

Yeah now lmao

[@eltatistico6568]

I do too, it is

[@Horacio_Poggi]

Nice explanation.

[@christinet6336]

Wooooow 😢…. That is such a shame

[@SamBroadway]

If you cannot stop people from using cocaine then legalize it. Take the power away from the cartels and gangs and make it a taxable commodity. People will continue to use drugs. If you need an example look at the damage done by alcohol consumption. In my opinion, drugs are no different than alcohol.

[@TRex-dd4ze]

And this too is part of BBC's agenda and bias. The report is set up so people conclude this, among other things. Legalizing drugs contributes to undermining a people and society and it will not remove criminality or cause gang violence to stop.

[@sylviarivas1757]

Salvadorean laws need to be implemented in Ecuador, to stop criminal activity. Other countries need to stay away.

[@garafanvou6586]

No need to add more violence

[@shadowslayer9988]

​@@garafanvou6586Difference is El Salvador violence went down drastically please do research 😂😂😂😂

[@garafanvou6586]

Please continue to see this a joke. That is exactly what you are.

[@benfreiler4054]

Yeah but El Salvador is also slipping away into authoritarianism. Bukele is already threatening to turn everything into a one-party state. Not good

[@BH-pl7vg]

They literally are

[@UnIimited_Power]

That whole region is just a mess.

[@ndlondlo2021]

You must be American. your comment stinks of American ignorance. your country is responsible. they want that army base back. we all know how obsessed you're with army bases.

[@garafanvou6586]

Well that is messed up

[@iasiaware3797]

How did Ecuador get where they at? Hmmm idk ask the United States government 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@josemiguelfernandez8103]

I mean its obvious that thee needs to be united front with all Latin American to fight cartels. No 1 country can fight this now multinational cartels

[@MdVaDc]

Its not about the cocaine. Its about the jobless police judges lawyers etc that wouldnlose jobs without criminals.

[@juhi6403]

Why don't government make some rules instead of creating problems for the ordinary man.

[@T3MPL3TillIdIe]

Bro , corruption and soft politicians are responsible for

[@patestrella7131]

Corruption & laziness are the main problem in South America.

[@usdepartmentofthetreasury489]

It’s actually corruption & leftism

[@TranquiloCamilo]

The cuestión is. Where is the bulk of the drug money stored? Probably not in Ecuador nor Mexico

[@SelfProclaimedEmperor]

Swiss banks

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@SelfProclaimedEmperorAmerican banks

[@Mkba7003]

I’m Ecuadorean, living in the UK. I wasn’t aware of what Correa did! Such a shame to have corrupt politicians who just think of themselves (ambition), and not about the people and country. I get why he is now in Belgium! He rans away after leaving his own country in this catastrophe. Who is paying now his corruption? The people!! Very sad to see the country you were born in this situation. God protect the people who are experiencing this war! 💔

[@--T_T-]

Correa left the continent SEVEN YEARS AGO!

[@hendo1971]

When Correa left the homicide rate was very low. He never ran away btw!!!!

[@dulceamore7257]

Tienes razón el le dio protección a las bandas criminales, y ahora ellos tienen más derechos humanos que nosotros... en su momento las cosas estaban tranquilas porque el negociaba con las mafias, pero ahora todo es distinto.

[@--T_T-]

@@dulceamore7257 oe pana Correa lleva siete años en otro continente y con las mismas leyes fuimos el país más seguro de América Latina

[@dulceamore7257]

@@--T_T- si amigo, estabamos en paz porque Correa tenía amistad con ellos, y los dejaba hacer sus cosas sin problemas, por ejemplo, dejaba pasar a cualquiera por las fronteras y retiró la base de Manta para que nadie vigile el trafico de drogas en el mar, aunque tienes razón, mucho se han demorado para poner mano dura otra vez.

[@blackgoogle2248]

Belgium... hmm

[@kliberalsing]

It's time to become less corrupt and a little more civilised.

[@martysmith2851]

Ecuador has never been a 'safe' country, maybe safer than Colombia and Venezuela, but you could get in a taxi and you could be kidnaped too. Always had to be aware. I lived in Ecuador, Colombia and Argentina, and visited others. Argentina was the safest out of those but even there was dodgy at times. But now Ecuador is crazy, hope it recovers

[@BH-pl7vg]

It was very safe for LATAM standards

[@BH-pl7vg]

Statistically

[@hevo1]

Every high-paying job should have a mandatory drug test. If we cannot stop it from the top, let's stop it from the bottom.

[@vinkthemink]

FOOL....AND IF YOU TOOK THE VACCINE FOR A LIE .... THEN YOU SHOULD NOT BE LISTENED TO AS ANYONE WORTHWHILE

[@ART-gx6sn]

Interestingly, the BBC Monitoring guy uses a 1980s traffic camera to file his piece.

[@Scottish.Gongsta79]

It's called a pissed off US for closure of bases

[@davidoldboy5425]

By having a Labour Mayor???????

[@usdepartmentofthetreasury489]

Bingo

[@usdepartmentofthetreasury489]

Socialism destroys E V E R Y T H I N G

[@tylerweston7981]

Remember when they arrested all of them all at once? What could go wrong

[@SilencioTuyo]

Well, you're not mentioning dollarization...

[@auro1986]

how? bbc

[@wiseass2149]

Correa was the last bastion of stability Ecuador ever had. Ever since he left it's been getting worse and worse.

[@MrMarcosema]

You clearly didn't pay attention, Correa was the one that let the drug cartels in the country

[@garafanvou6586]

This avalanche could not be stopped, but he was the one digging the trenches to control the damage. Now it’s a free for all

[@BH-pl7vg]

Because the other leaders haven’t been as the same level of corruption as Correa

[@JerryDreadlocks]

We are in Ecuador right now. Everything is fine...

[@BH-pl7vg]

Where, Quito, Baños or Cuenca?😂 and yeah, over the last month the giant crack down has reduced violence a lot.

[@krnpowr]

Ecuador, Venezuela, and Haiti have completely collapsed, and it's migrants from those 3 countries that are turning up by the thousands every day at the US southern border.

[@chrisstevens2]

I live in Ecuador and call BS on your statement. The country is far from having collapsed. In most regions we see no change.

[@krnpowr]

@@chrisstevens2 Why the hordes of Ecuadorian migrans fleeing Ecuador and trying to get to the US then?

[@MrMarcosema]

​@@krnpowrthere are more chinese in the border than ecuadorians

[@krnpowr]

@@MrMarcosema Nope. Venezuelans, Ecuadorians, Hatians, and Chinese in that order.

[@MrMarcosema]

@@krnpowr I don't know where you are getting your numbers but fron arrests at the border these are the numbers "Mexicans were arrested 39,733 times crossing the border in September, well behind Venezuelans. Guatemalans, Hondurans and Colombians rounded out the top five." Ecuadorians don't make the top five . This is from VOANEWS of october 2023

[@BigBoiiLeem]

Just a note: it is inaccurate to say that FARC controlled the drug trade in Colombia. Were they involved in the trade? Absolutely, without a doubt, as were many other guerrilla groups and paramilitaries throughout Colombia's complex history with cocaine (M-16, ELN, and the Autodefensas, just to name a few). However, since the downfall of the Cali Cartel, no one organisation or group of people could claim to control the trade.

[@emsauce75]

When a Banana Republic turns into a Cocaine Empire.

[@garafanvou6586]

It’s just a highway between the two cocaine empires…

[@jakubantala5666]

Interesting is, that there is no grafity in that country

[@JoseMcBride-yc8pv]

Forgot to mention that Correa also open the country for a period of time where no one in the world needed a visa to enter Ecuador Bienvenido too all cartels worldwide.

[@SauakathAli]

THANKS S A 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸❤❤❤

[@Thedead-isalive]

Since the US dollar it got cursed . Leave US out of Ecuador and you will get your full luck and culture back. Strengthen independence. And no more gang violence.

[@garafanvou6586]

It definitely hasn’t helped, but its banks defaulted beyond logic. Ecuador would have made Greece look like paradise.

[@SlinkyFromHell.4]

In U.S. nobody should care about cocaine...? We need to get millions out of their opiate/fentaneyl slumber, SOOO much more important than stopping cocaine

[@johnnywatson4629]

How can you pronounce English so clearly with such minimum facial movements? Impressive! As someone studying English as a second language, I always have trouble speaking articulate English 😂

[@Livesc1]

botox

[@mervynsoo8353]

😂😂​@@Livesc1

[@iberia777]

wow, same laws, same problems... shocker!

[@SP-ny1fk]

Imagine what could be achieved through legalisation.

[@Porusize]

Cartels really find innovative ways to survive as well thrive in the business they do. Only one long term solution to it. Investing in health of people in Europe and US that discourages them to consume those drugs in the first place.

[@gregattanasio3185]

Greed, power n Demons grip.the minds of most.WE ALL NEED JESUS.. MAY YOU BELIEVE

[@--T_T-]

The problem is that people who have JESUS in their mouths don't defend the truth and peace

[@tamiotribe5238]

Waiting for someone to blame it on Israel

[@JAMA_BARRE]

BBC ayaa maantay Wax Fiican soo tabineysa isma laheen. Waxbaaa uun ku hoos jira OO ay rabtaa iney aduunka u sheegto

[@aceghostification1162]

Where is the human rights?

[@hrkristoffer]

Need legalization of all drugs

[@otimio]

Your a drug addict

[@Desertrose882]

Yeah, just blame US and Europe for the problem. Don't try to fix it internally.

[@garafanvou6586]

Just apply a long term, over night solution. Easy.

[@jamesmitch9792]

tell Europeans to stop doing drugs.

[@guardianoffire8814]

Life is shit for people around the West. Wealth is all concentrated around the elites, housing is getting harder to afford, ethnic Europeans see themselves as replaceable by migrants, democracy does not respond to the needs of the masses and politicians abuse their position for personal gain to help their wealthy backers carry out policies internally (tax-breaks, corporate subsidies) and externally (wars, regime change) in their favour. So people use material things purchased on credit, drugs and alcohol to temporarily forget their miserable existence and fill that empty void. The reason why the Muslims can keep going, is they believe that irregardless of how bad things get, they'll be paradise in the afterlife. So Muslims continue to live on, fight and have children. Hope and faith are the rallying cry of the lazy, excuses of the weak; but during hardship it keeps people from ending it.

[@Joe-ij6of]

Ecuador: “We don’t want to work with the US because we don’t need their help” Don’t want to work with the US? Fine… but you DON’T need any help? 😂

[@Thelandissue]

Results of corrupt politicians

[@Emjpop2024]

This kind of regional conflict and issues in the country is getting increase in recently. It is so unforgiving things that one of the safest country change to dangerous country.There are lots of dangers that will lead big conflict of country basis. The UN and EU should control the trade. Same as South Africa situation, reinforcing police is crucial.

[@94Harrymitchell]

Fark

[@blackwatertv7018]

Wrong country, my dude

[@fredsmith2213]

One word Prohibition ,and if you want it this is the price society has to be willing to pay. To many consenting adults across the world want to take cocaine,personally I think governments should be in control of it,but for some reason society would rather it be sold by human trafficking narcos go figure 🤷‍♂️✌️

[@dropshot4610]

hmmm, interesting thought

[@aztekcolours5468]

Look at singapore and see the consequences they face when their caught with illegal substances

[@fredsmith2213]

@@aztekcolours5468 I have and right now their ex president is under investigation for crimes against humanity by letting anyone including the police murder ppl in the streets, who they suspect are drug users/ dealers. No due process,is it really worth killing ppl because they want to consume plant extracts?

[@mattburge219]

How that prohibition thing you speak of work with alcohol? Who became really rich and powerful?...oh that's right some guy named Al Capone

[@mattburge219]

Who wants the government more involved then they already are? Stop making it illegal, which makes it expensive

[@josephhoward3558]

How did the BBC evolve and morph into Breakfast TV. That's what I want to know?

[@report-all-potholes-and-ro2712]

None of my friends or family have discussed Ecuador, but we have observed a lot less people eat semolina these days.

[@JsckSzx]

usa and uk behind the scenes probably

[@StephenGoodfellow]

So legalize it.

[@CarlWicker]

Worldwide? Yeah right lmao

[@StephenGoodfellow]

@@CarlWicker Prohibition. How did that work out?

[@CarlWicker]

@@StephenGoodfellow So you think the solution is legalise cocaine worldwide? lol lmao roflcopter lolacayst... how do you get every nation to agree to such a stupid request?

[@StephenGoodfellow]

@@CarlWicker Just get your own nation to legalize it, like the US did with alcohol.

[@CarlWicker]

@@StephenGoodfellow This makes no sense, if some nations legalise it will still be contraband in others but with increased supply available. this is insanity and only gives the drug lords more power.

[@EricoOci]

Bro's need to stop you put your self up for wanted.

[@theotheleo6830]

Get a grip on your people, Europe!

[@theotheleo6830]

@Dom-py6tr Are you joking? It couldn't be more clear.

[@tominmtnvw]

Really stupid move disengaging from the United States.

[@guardianoffire8814]

Not really. Both the head of the CIA, DEA and FBI have played roles in coups across Latin America for their own personal interests. That's why some countries oppose US military and evening work with US agencies.

[@jakebe4915]

Indeed, free protection...

[@garafanvou6586]

This isn’t the wild west cowboy. More guns are not required.

[@Derguz]

If there's a market for illegal drugs there's a business around it, Ecuador is basically exporting substances that are in demand - so the government has failed in cracking down on the production, either because of corruption, or because of an inability to adequately secure a state monopoly on violence. So It would be more appropriate to ask: where do the gangs get their weapons. It's not coincidence that the majority of weapons are made in the US.

[@MrMarcosema]

Ecuador is only a transit country, we do not grow coca or make cocaine. The cocaine comes from Colombia and Peru and is shipped by containers to Europe but 30% goes by sea to Mexico (in narco submarines, planes and fast boats), the weapons come on the way in. Sometimes they pay the drugs with weapons

[@garafanvou6586]

The bullets, maybe. Those weapons looked sawed off. It is reported that the weapons are Peruvian.

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@garafanvou6586Most are American

[@juliosalas1357]

Not a word about the two presidents that followed Correa ? Journalism?

[@teros433]

This is hilarious. Portraying USA as the heroe, as if the Manta's base would be the only reason. You also said that the main way of sending the drug to europe is on exported banana. Do you know who the father of the new president, Daniel NOBOA, is?

[@garafanvou6586]

A Bananero?

[@LeonelMartinez-lk9iv]

i meant to type district 33

[@kingayman5225]

More about bananas, they are basically impossible to inspect because they are perishable

[@--T_T-]

Fact 1: the US base left 15 years ago Fact 2: when the US base left crimes went down from 17 to 5 kills per 100 k people. Fact 3: Correa left the continent 7 years AGO Fact 4: Conservative and surrenderist governments have governed Ecuador for the last 7 years

[@BH-pl7vg]

Correa was corrupt af. Yes, of course crime can fall when the president allows narcos to do business and in return they reduce chaos but that’s a slippery slope and often a shitty solution. It’s literally exactly what’s happening in Colombia right now.

[@rg2613]

Learn from El Salvador

[@AdamBechtol]

What idiots. Stop blaming drugs, stop blaming users. Blame idiotic politicians who keep drugs illegal. All this pain and violence could be solved with the stroke of a pen. The drug war is over. Drugs won. #liberalizedrugs

[@derry3344ii]

If only the people of the US& Europe didn't have a craving for the drugs 👍

[@pohanahawaii]

😡 In South America, it doesn't matter to gangs and cartels as long as it makes money. They are involved in not just drugs but also coffee, quinoa, avocado, agave, etc. As soon as farmers make a little profit, cartels immediately step in to control the trade.

[@pohanahawaii]

@dellwright1407: 🙄 1) Let's not forget that *drug dealers and cartels also work to create demand* by luring people in, making it easy/cheap for them to access drugs at first to become addicts and future customers. According to NCDAS, *73% of drug addicts/abusers are between the ages of 18-29 with those trying drugs before 13 likely to develop a habit within 7 years.* 2) It's true that US/Canadian consumers also have to take partial responsibility for our demands but WTF (?) when *every business dealing with Mexico and South America resulted in criminal gangs involvement* one way or another?!?! I say this as an avocado, quinoa, agave, banana, coffee consumer who *naively thought by giving South America our businesses, we would help farmers and elevate people's lives so they don't have to migrate.* Wrong! Our dollars still going towards criminal gangs and the *#1 reason people gave when claiming Asylum are still cartels and poverty.* Seems to me this is not so much because of our "demand" but the *failure, decay, and corruption of the Mexican, South American law enforcement, government, people, and culture.*

[@pohanahawaii]

@dellwright1407 : 🙄 1) Let's not forget that *drug dealers and cartels also work to create demand* by luring people in, making it easy/cheap for them to access drugs at first to become addicts and future customers. According to NCDAS, *73% of drug addicts/abusers are between the ages of 18-29 with those trying drugs before 13 likely to develop a habit within 7 years.* 2) It's true that US/Canadian consumers also have to take partial responsibility for our demands but WTF (?) when *every business dealing with Mexico and South America resulted in criminal gangs involvement* one way or another?!?! I say this as an avocado, quinoa, agave, banana, coffee consumer who *naively thought by giving South America our businesses, we would help farmers and elevate people's lives so they don't have to migrate.* Wrong! Our dollars still going towards criminal gangs and the *#1 reason people gave when claiming Asylum are still cartels and poverty.* Seems to me this is not so much because of our "demand" but the failure, decay, and corruption of the Mexican, South American law enforcement, government, people, and culture.

[@pohanahawaii]

@dellwright1407 : 🙄 1) Let's not forget that *drug dealers and cartels also work to create demand* by luring people in, making it easy/cheap for them to access drugs at first to become addicts and future customers. According to NCDAS, *73% of drug addicts/abusers are between the ages of 18-29 with those trying drugs before 13 likely to develop a habit within 7 years.* 2) It's true that US/Canadian consumers also have to take partial responsibility for our demands but WTF (?) when *every business dealing with Mexico and South America resulted in criminal gangs involvement* one way or another?!?! I say this as an avocado, quinoa, agave, banana, coffee consumer who *naively thought by giving South America our businesses, we would help farmers and elevate people's lives so they don't have to migrate.* F***ing wrong! Our dollars still going towards criminal gangs and the *#1 reason people gave when claiming Asylum are still cartels and poverty.* Seems to me this is not so much because of our "demand" but the failure, decay, and corruption of their own law enforcement, government, people, and culture.

[@pohanahawaii]

@dellwright1407: 🙄 Let's not forget that *drug dealers and cartels also work to create demand* by luring people in, making it easy/cheap for them to access drugs at first to become addicts and future customers. According to NCDAS, *73% of drug addicts/abusers are between the ages of 18-29 with those trying drugs before 13 likely to develop a habit within 7 years.*

[@LeonelMartinez-lk9iv]

lol yall ever seen the move disitricf 33

[@LeonelMartinez-lk9iv]

district 33

[@mariocabrera9586]

What’s happened is Europe and America can’t stop sniffing so yea that’s why Ecuador is the way it is

[@garafanvou6586]

😤

[@endualva]

This is BBC's bias at its best. Keep it up!

[@NUCLEAR154]

Easy= drug Cartels are grouping countries together in a world takeover😅

[@GeorgeEstregan828]

Wokeness

[@Vopian]

Now Ecuador can come here illegally and be given asylum a cell phone and 3000 dollars at the border

[@garafanvou6586]

Those taxes wont pay themselves. File your taxes quickly.

[@scottmitchell8273]

You can buy coke from the police in montanita !

[@zootsnchoons649]

The area has almost constantly hosted conflict. Maybe its the people

[@LigiaCanoR]

The problem was populist leaders who divided society, now all Ecuadorians are united to fight against narcoterrorists

[@resolverresolver5812]

The cause nd foundation of the problem is Italy nd France Paris, America, Napolitano, Napoli, Taranto, Torino, Sardegna, Rome*? '?'? '' '?'???

[@tblcville]

Most likely th same as any south and central american country its proximity to blowcaine producing and trafficing groups ...... when coc has to go thru or around your country it tends to happe

[@ReginaJune]

5:36 the Albanians get it to Asia for oligarchs that like to party?

[@cuisonginno]

Narcos Ecuador

[@jpsmusicandmore5457]

Make it legal and tax it

[@mgs2014]

Far left activism

[@SymonZiev]

Chinese manilulation

[@BillAthey-b1t]

Lee Edward Clark Cynthia Davis Christopher

[@PabloIzurieta]

Legalize the stuff, already!

[@nickwillobey2205]

Same as every other country in the world.