How Ecuador went from tourist haven to a nation in the grip of gangs | BBC News

[@smeeagain3102]

Drugs and gangs destroy lives

[@ryand141]

Blame the weak Americans and Europeans who snort them every weekend.

[@ryand141]

You reap what you sow.

[@smeeagain3102]

@@ryand141 exactly what you voted for

[@dontcomply3976]

President Bukele of El Salvador has the answer

[@sss-gl9et]

what a genius statement

[@tride.design]

I visited Ecuador 5 years ago, it was calm, peaceful, safe and hospitable. We traveled through it for 2 weeks and we're really impressed by it, hope it will get back in order soon

[@d.f.9064]

I live in Cotacachi. Not much has changed. Even Quito hasn't changed much. The changes I see are only the presence of more army and police.

[@fdm2155]

Yes, a friend was planning to retire to Ecuador this year...obviously that's changed.

[@rashminable]

I went there the same time. Absolutely beautiful. It felt like the country was on the verge of great things.

[@pipo4158]

Bro stop actong as if this place wa amazing 5 years ago😂😂

[@b.guan0133]

@@d.f.9064yeah from what I understand it’s more near the coast, since that’s what the drug business came for in the first place

[@8NEXTONE8]

Damn shame, hell of a place. Beaches, rainforest, mountains a place of immense natural beauty. Hopefully we will see improvement soon

[@JC-gz4bj]

Did you see his face ? That guy is president his last name is Noboa he’s a narco politician, and USA is with him

[@mikeboyle5375]

I just returned from a vacation in Ecuador and had a fantastic time. We stayed in the interior of the country away from the coast and didn’t have any issues. We started in Quito and then went to Mindo and then on to Tena. The natural beauty and geographical diversity in the country are amazing - you pass thru cold mountain passes and the humid jungle within a few hours drive. We did pass thru several military check points but they just waved us through. They were usually interested in checking trucks/trailers for drugs. We exercised the most caution in Quito as our hotel advised us not to walk around the city after 4pm - I felt less safe there than in Mindo and Tena. I traveled with my wife and two children. Overall it was a priceless experience and I would do it again.

[@lisaharper1827]

We pray for your country and its wonderful people.

[@1964mcqueen]

This is so sad. I travelled around Ecuador in 2020, just before the COVID 19 Pandemic. I travelled from Quito to Mindo, Guayaquil, Montanita and Puerto Lopez. I was a solo traveler, and never felt unsafe. Let's hope they can get this under control and get back to the peaceful, beautiful country that it was just a short time ago.

[@Aego384]

As an Ecuadorian myself, I appreciate your concern.

[@henryruiz7447]

thanks

[@johnm5229]

It is a beautiful country. I also around that time traveled to the coast and Puerto Lopez was awesome.

[@monolabmusicstudio2373]

I live in Ecuador and this report is blown out of proportion. Sure we have problems, like most countries, but it is still safe in a vast majority of Ecuador, still beautiful, and still full of friendly people. I feel more at risk in the USA, hoping I don't get shot when I visit.

[@CarlosRodriguez-ty9pl]

so don’t visit , I too lived in ecuador . The corruption and chaos is not exaggerated.

[@alr6111]

Whoever wrote the comment is missing half of their brain.

[@A1Kirazz]

cope

[@BH-pl7vg]

Also living in Ecuador and yeah the vast majority of the country is reasonable safe but the coast is very at risk and quite a large portion of the population live there and for that reason it’s very accurate for the majority of citizens, also non violent crimes are still rising at uncomfortable rates in the sierra so I wouldn’t disregard it completely but yeah, Quito, Cuenca, Ambato and such feel very safe.

[@johnnitoful]

Shut up about the usa.

[@juantech7811]

I am Ecuadorian, I have lived here my entire life, and this video is completely exaggerating everything. It is not that bad the problem is just in some cities in the coast and right now is 100 times better than how it was a couple of months ago. This is an exaggeration, and the only thing that they achieve with this kind of videos is to destroy all the tourism in the country, ruining the economy of the country and making the problem worst. This kind of videos doesn't help Ecuador.

[@BH-pl7vg]

All cities in the coast*

[@hrussell9677]

It is not an exaggeration. An American was just killed a month ago in a bar on the coast because he refused to give his wallet to a gang member who went into a bar to steal. Private taxis are being stopped by gangsters on the drive from Guayaquil Airport to Cuenca. When it starts to impact tourists, you know it is a hundred times worse for the locals. Gang activity is encroaching into cities like Cuenca which has always had low level petty theft, but now it is worse. This is not a media invention. It is unsafe.

[@semvlasveld8799]

Have to look at the guy who says they are terrorist and his hand symbol, he is a freemason, your country is being taken over by these people right now if you ask me. So this is all planned.. just why would they destroy a country is the real question.

[@johnkrieger185]

Are you saying this to increase tourism or are your words to be accepted completely?

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@johnkrieger185 Why should I care about tourism? Haha. I’m just just saying this based on my experience and mutual agreement amongst citizens and also the stats back it; in 2023 Quito had a homicide rate of 8.95, Cuenca had a homicide rate of 3.69, Ambato had a homicide rate of 5.12… keep in mind that the homicide rate for all of the US is slightly under 7, places like Chicago fairly higher than what I’ve just listed in the highland cities of Ecuador BUT now compare this to the coast: Guayaquil was 84.29, Portoviejo was 76.48, Duran was 140.32, Machala was 78.02… the list goes on but there’s a clear difference. The coast is definitely getting the majority of it as crime is concentrated in these area due to the high presence of gangs and they are mostly being attracted by the desire of controlling the ports for the exportation of drugs (mainly cocaine to Europe).

[@summer031977]

I hope Ecuador doesn't fall into the trap that Mexico and Columbia experienced. It will take decades to get back to normal.

[@johnm5229]

Indeed. It will take years and unfortunate the corruption of past governments left the Ecuadorian treasury empty. To take care security and social programs cost money and it is something that President Noboa is trying to juggle.

[@summer031977]

@johnm5229 President Noboa is doing a wonderful job.

[@johnm5229]

@@summer031977 God Bless Ecuador and President Noboa!

[@RayRay-xt2qh]

British Columbia?

[@christinet6336]

Oh, it's going to, sadly. One presidential term is not going to fix this. Policies have to change and every successor politician must be on the same page regarding those policies. Good luck with that.

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

in NYC, we are appreciative of the Ecuadorians. & great cuisine. .

[@scarlettjewell8092]

Cuisine? I've been living here 7 years and have yet to find anything I'd recommend.

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

@@scarlettjewell8092 And?? Wow, 7 years, almost a lifetime & you never had tasty Ecuadorian food. That is on you.

[@VictoriaAlfredSmythe]

@@scarlettjewell8092 Perhaps try La Isla 1439 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn

[@scarlettjewell8092]

@@VictoriaAlfredSmythe , or is it the fact that there is very little variety, everything is bland, or just plain disgusting. If you are in the US you are probably eating Ecuadorian Fusion food mixed with ingredients and spices that you are familiar with. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who describes Ecuador as a gastronomic destination.

[@dannyd6492]

​@@scarlettjewell8092 you are talking smack😅 and don't get out much everyone knows going to ecuador is great for food as well

[@johnm5229]

A couple of months ago I was visiting Ecuador. In fact, I was taking care paper work to bring my service animal back to the States when the day the President Noboa declared state of emergency against terrorism. I was clueless until early afternoon when all the shops were closing or were closed and I saw military vehicles all over the city. I did what everyone did and went back to my hotel. It is a beautiful friendly country that is affordable to Americans, Europeans and others. I do plan to go back in about a year and I hope and pray that President Noboa is able to fight crime, corruption and narcos that are trying to take over this county. God Bless Ecuador, its people and President Noboa.

[@thierryminet9682]

Noboa won't be able to do much unless he changes the constitution but I don't think he will. What we need here is a Bukele unfortunately the only candidate who could have been as efficient as Bukele was Jan Topic but he didn't run a good enough campaign.

[@johnm5229]

@@thierryminet9682 The Ecuadorian Constitution was changed in the last two weeks. The was a national consult vote in Ecuador and people supported President Noboa with 9 out of 11 questions being approved. It makes it 81 percent of support to President Noboa. In votes it was 67 percent or 2 out 3 Ecuadorian supported President Noboa. Now some of those criminals can be extradited among other things.

[@thierryminet9682]

@@johnm5229 The referendum passed 9 out of 11 and I know that but you will know that the changes aren't in the books yet it's gonna take months to change it in the constitution and it needs to be ratified by the Asamblea nacional del Ecuador ( knowing that RC listens to Correa they're not gonna vote for it) so even if most of the referendum went through you won't see changes any time soon. Oh and btw we had two hecho de sicariato hoy aqui en Manta.

[@thierryminet9682]

@@johnm5229 The questions related to security in the referendum are not gonna change a lot of things on the streets, we can already see the rise in crimes the last few weeks. We had a sense of quiet right after the estado de conflicto armado was declared last January 10th. It lasted for two month but since early March violence picked up quite a bit 15 murders here in Manabi over the long weekend (in Chone, Portoviejo, Manta, Pedernales). Noboa is targeting the wrong people, Ecuadorians want safety in the streets, not tomorrow not next year but NOW. We need a Bukele here and Noboa is not the guy.

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@johnm5229 Large process is still yet to take place, the national assembly may not even vote for anything. Popular opinion doesn’t really mean much.

[@tpok9433]

Yo pase tres meses en ecuador en 2015, era tan tranquila tan hermosa, gente tan buena, me lamento mucho por lo que esta pasando ahora

[@moodc5238]

Gracias por este muy buen documental en Inglés vivo en 🇺🇸S.C y un amigo me estaba preguntando que estaba pasando en Ecuador así que le puse este documental, me dijo “bro your country is beautiful AF I didn’t imagine that Ecuador was like that”

[@ElGriegoTravels]

Just came back from Ecuador a week ago and didn’t witness any gang activity. Had a wonderful vacation, the people were friendly, food was delicious and the landscape breathtaking

[@canescaniaccombo]

i could say the same when i went to mexico, but you know thats not the case

[@ElGriegoTravels]

@@canescaniaccombo The local consensus that I got from the Ecuadorians is that western media is blowing it way out of proportion & I’ve also been to Mexico as well and didn’t get kidnapped by El Chapo

[@deegenovese3558]

You were there last week and didn't see how they invaded the mexican consulate????

[@babytoshiro7014]

It's like traveling anywhere. You rarely see or feel the bad stuff because you are on... VACATION. Its not like you live there.

[@CrotchCousteau]

@@ElGriegoTravelsthey killed a presidential candidate in Ecuador. sure there aren’t bodies hanging from bridges yet but it’s clearly going south

[@noraramos3337]

Excelente documental! me dio mucha nostalgia 😢 Soy Cubana de nacimiento pero vivo en los Estados Unidos por 44 años. hace dies años atras entre el 2013 y 2016 visite Ecuador y quede deleitada con tanta belleza y gastronomia. Desde entonces me dije que me retiraria en ese Hermoso pais con tanta biodiversidad y cultura. Más hoy Lamentablemente creo no podre hacer mi sueño realidad. Dios ponga su mano y Ecuador vuelva a ser el pais que un dia fué y lluvia de Bendiciones a todos los Ecuatorianos 🙏🇪🇨

[@SyD256]

Yo acabe de regresar de vacaciones en Ecuador. El pais es seguro y solo son zonas aisladas que tienen la delincuencia. Este documental sale de todo contexto y lamentablemente eso es lo que venden estos canales.Yo vivo en Canada y despues de visitar Ecuador, mi deseo de retirarme ahi sigue vigente. No te dejes llevar de este tipo de noticias. Visita el pais y lo veras tu mismo

[@vickypedias]

"How do they get the arms into the prisons" 'mostly thru the doors" Yes, I see.

[@Boston82bl]

Corruption obviously is the biggest problem.

[@OPFOR-SQUAD]

People like Glas... But no lets protect them!

[@TrueThatTucson]

Ecuador went from Correa to Noboa get it yet Nephew?

[@johnm5229]

Indeed. Past governments have sold or made it easier for narcos to do business. Bless President Noboa for fighting criminals, corruption, thieves and narco.

[@TrueThatTucson]

@@johnm5229 no one is easier to corrupt than the son of a rich man. For the good of Ecuador Noboa must go and it's rich resources benefit the people. Weapons from the USA is no way to fight drugs.

[@johnm5229]

@@TrueThatTucson Weapons and American technology have helped Colombia greatly so your argument does not hold water. Corruption is for people who never had money in the first place that now many live in asylum in Mexico and 1 lives in Belgium. When you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. Thus, you do not flee. What did the Correista assembly did when the first shooting happen in the jails in Ecuador? Absolutely nothing and even Lasso. It happened several times that even the Pope mentioned of the violence inside the jails the criminals had weapons. Under Noboa the country and the world found out that the jails were like 5 star hotels to include internet that were broadcast all over the media. God Bless President Noboa fighting criminals, corruption, thieves and narcos.

[@margosha_ya1]

I lived and worked in Ecuador in 2014-2016, it was safe and calm there. I can't believe that it changed a lot..😮

[@TheTraveller20081]

Este video me hace triste como no puedo creer. Mi nombre significa 'el viajero de 2008', el año cuando pasé tiempo en Ecuador - y muchos otros paises suramericanos. Ecuador tenía sus problemas - necesitabamos seguridad armada cuando habíamos cargado los bolsos debajo de un autobús, por ejemplo - pero solo contra el robo. Nunca pensé que ese país y su pueblo amable podrían caer a este situación. Que pena...

[@gregnm369]

It’s not THAT bad. Moved here a year ago with my wife. Crime stats are still lower than major US cities. Where we live, I feel safer than Atlanta.

[@Buildingenjoyment]

Why is this report completely exaggerated. The daily life is nothing like this in Ecuador.

[@moonlight01011]

America's insatiable appetite for drugs creates the hell in Latin America.

[@max3eey]

It's all because of prohibition

[@migspedition]

ask P Diddy that 😂

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

No do a story on how Haiti went from being the Jewel of the Caribbean to hell on Earth🤔

[@oritafilms]

Haiti was a disaster since day 1

[@decodedpsyop]

It was never a jewel why you guys are so obsessed by Haiti. There's many reporting already, let's talk about British savagery around the globe it's a British channel.

[@decodedpsyop]

@MS-lk4xc I'm not British, I don't live in Britain, however the US government census says that you guys are more than 100 millions . There's British Canadian, Caribbean, South American. On top of all the Portuguese, Spanish, French, German , Italian. You guys should probably head back to Europe instead of massively moving to other people's continent.

[@austingode]

@@decodedpsyopyour lucky you don’t live in Britain……. But the rest of your statement makes no sense

[@decodedpsyop]

@@austingode Well the amount of British outside Britain makes no sense too. You can tell people to leave . Meanwhile the British diaspora is among the biggest worldwide.

[@Jane-o9f]

3.000 en sólo dos semanas. Dios bendiga a Melanie R. Capparro.

[@David-p9x9t]

3er ganador gracias a Melanie R. Capparro, ella es verdaderamente la mejor corredora que he visto en mi vida.

[@Taylor22953]

todos la conocen. ella es muy buena en lo que hace. Un experto

[@AlessandroEvans]

El comercio con Melanie R. Capparro me hizo darme cuenta de esto

[@Carmen11840]

La señora Melanie R. Capparro realmente sabe invertir, lo cual se debe a su profundo conocimiento de cómo funciona el mercado, interpretando las señales perfectamente

[@EmilioMartinez-kf7ky]

Es sorprendente cómo está influyendo positivamente en la vida con sus habilidades comerciales y de gestión.

[@Angello20-PY]

Admiro mucho su trabajo. Saludos cordiales y bendiciones desde Paraguay 🇵🇾

[@atomicgeisha]

This is what happens when a country doesn't help poor people.

[@dontcomply3976]

No, this is what happens when you become a puppet of the Marxist Chavezista ideology

[@stevenhickey8636]

Venezuela has helped its poor people over the last 20 years , pre-Meduro. The nation is in economic free fall , extremely violent , and citizens fleeing to Colombia or , recently , USA. I know the country well. Your remark is pointless and makes little sense.

[@lionelk.1739]

I couldn't agree more.

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@stevenhickey8636 Help doesn’t have to equate to social programs lol

[@tbcy3zj]

Venezuela is a mess because of communism and mismanaged resources

[@troyerrand]

Ecuador is an amazing country ❤❤❤❤ greeting

[@jessicalissettebonafonttix4140]

People who consume illegal drugs should be aware of supporting these type of bussiness empower criminals and this is the outcome. They can pay and sneak into wherever place they want.

[@johnkrieger185]

People that make drugs illegal should be aware of the criminal hierarchy they are helping to establish.

[@tbcy3zj]

​@@johnkrieger185decriminalization doesn't work, stop justifying these gangs killing people with their addictive drugs.

[@pbac7540]

This is where the real wars are. I wish Ecuadorians, Columbians, and Americans all the best in the war against drugs. We all win when you win 👊

[@ulysses8785]

It happened when Ecuador did not renew the contract for the US miltary base in Manta.

[@johnm5229]

The Corrupt President Correa closed the base so it made it easier for narcos to take over the country without state of the art radar that the U.S. had.

[@ioroman]

It happened when the Department of Justice was eliminated. I happened when, through a referendum, against the constitution, judges were replaced arbitrarily.

[@BH-pl7vg]

It was many years after that actually.

[@semvlasveld8799]

Was that recentley, because that new president is a freemason.... look at the hand symbol he likes to make.

[@d.f.9064]

Lets stop being ignorant. Gangs are a rising problem everywhere, for everyone. She wants to leave Ecuador to be safe. Where will she go? Everywhere she can go is dealing with the same things. Ecuador is just the most recent. El Salvador is the only country dealing with it effectively.

[@BH-pl7vg]

Quito really isn’t that bad but there are definitely alternatives, even in South America. For example even Bogotá has like 1/4 of the homicide rate of Quito.

[@billobrien4680]

As a resident of Ecuador, I can say that the reports of wanton violence are overblown. There has been episodes of violence in the prisons which is typically contained in a short time. The majority of the violence is happening on the coast, where gangs/cartels fight among themselves for the most part. In my rears here, I have never witnessed any violence/crime. The "state of exception" and it's extension has been effective (for now). That being said, I do not venture into areas that in the past I had no issue with. Tomorrow there is a national referendum to amend the Constitution to give the police and military more freedom to act in order to protect the safety of the people. Sentences for various crimes will be increased.

[@CarolCityCane305]

So you want a right wing dictatorship to take control?

[@Winter_ECU]

@@CarolCityCane305 Are you ecuadorian?

[@CarolCityCane305]

@@Winter_ECU yea my mother is from there

[@MrJed_s]

How did the referendum go?

[@Winter_ECU]

@@MrJed_s amazing the yes won in tje most importan questions.

[@amygetsstoked8644]

Been here 4 months. The only problem that I have had in the last 4 months was the night I arrived in Guayaquil. I booked a nice $$ International- Brand hotel (Courtyard Hotel) in the business district thinking that it would be the safest place. Someone tried entering my room around 4-5 am, but I had the door stopper engaged and they were not able to open the door completely. Then when I went to breakfast, a group of armed military came through the lobby with a K9 and then left an hour later. When I returned to my room I discovered someone entered the room and removed all my towels but did not replace them - very strange considering I had not checked out yet and it was like 7 in the morning- well before housekeeping should be in my room. I thought maybe I was robbed. Management was terrible in resolving my concerns and I think the hotel was an organized criminal operation. But after that first night, the next few months have been nothing but peaceful, fun, and lovely. The tourism has declined drastically, and many hotels and restaurants have shuttered in tourist places.

[@carloscastro9138]

Q bueno q Ecuador esta dando los pasos correctos contra en crimen como lo a hecho nuestro Presidente Nayib Bukele . Good for Ecuador for taking the right steps to stop crime the same way our President Nayib Bukele .

[@marcocuvero9149]

Se me hace el corazón chiquito al ver este video por la desgracia que estamos viviendo en un sector del país, PERO está bastante exagerado yo vivo entre Gye y Quito y la verdad que el país y nuestra gente se ve en cada lugar trabajamos para sacar el país adelante. Hay un sector en el país muy específico que es zona roja y espero que poco a poco todo el país esté libre de mafias. Yo tengo una agencia de turismo y puedo decir que Ecuador es muy hermoso y visitable.

[@badspasm1]

Ecuador was high on my short list a few years back to retire and live. It was checking all my boxes for living there. But I've been watching what's been happening in Ecuador and it's not good. Now I'm looking at se asia. Maybe Cambodia, Vietnam. Still keeping my eye on south America but looking like se asia Wil be my starting place to find my new place to live.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Ever think of Antartica..?? Very safe..!

[@MrJazzConbuzz]

drugs was always there and violence i was leaving there in 1997 was easier than now but north part of the city was really dangerous

[@MrJazzConbuzz]

forgot that level of corruption is 1000%

[@peacefor2024]

Courageous reportage, however it will not put me off to travel to Ecuador in automn. Pray that things will get better for all Ecuadorians soon...

[@marcshelstead5355]

Problem with these countries is low wages and keeping upper clase rich and the poor down

[@Ross-e9k]

Yeah, that's the problem. You're a dimwit.

[@alrent2992]

Why does the prison system in Ecuador allow prisoners with cellphones? So stupid. Always seperate the bad leaders like fito in a different section. Prison guards need to work in teams.

[@johnm5229]

It was the corruption that Correa left the country in ruins.

[@irregulargamer1352]

They don't even have the death sentence or life sentences. You have morons there talking about human rights when the reality is that they have no idea what they are talking about or want to get their family members off scott free when they should rightfully be in jail.

[@BH-pl7vg]

They don’t allow them to have cellphones… it’s contraband, it’s snuck in by those same guards you’re talking about lol

[@irregulargamer1352]

@@BH-pl7vg doesnt really make it better

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@irregulargamer1352 My comment wasn’t a defence nor can I see how it could be taken as one.

[@lfeb]

Have some friends that just went and had no trouble

[@RandieDeguzman-qw3fm]

It's sad to say illegal precursor drug is bad to our society

[@alejandromontalvo3423]

An American was killed in Manta yesterday while dining in a restaurant.

[@koushikdas1992]

May he is doing drag trafficking there.

[@katecedeno1382]

😔

[@luizito1212]

Is azogues safe is extortion big there?

[@alr6111]

Thanks Colombia.

[@hydrazi]

I feel maybe the drama inthis report is a more than overblown. I been here since January in Ecuador. I live near a "red zone" and there's very little violence, and none I have seen myself.

[@BH-pl7vg]

Where? Quito?

[@hydrazi]

@@BH-pl7vg Coast

[@Jetmab04]

Yes and, the statistics of Ecuador are backing you up 😊

[@BH-pl7vg]

@@Jetmab04 Are you joking? Is this sarcasm? LOL

[@Jetmab04]

@@BH-pl7vg I am NOT joking.. Just the other day another blogger from Ecuador actually showed the statistics from there, - including the numbers showing, crime is falling in the country... and, have done so for a while! I'll try to find this later this weekend... and will post you a link. Have to work now.... Have a good day!!

[@happycowabunga]

I live in Ecuador and this story is blown out of proportion. Yes there is gang violence, especially in prisons, but in general it is quit and peaceful in the country. To me it is another story of sensationalized news.

[@GruntsInTheSky]

WHY have the BBC IGNORED rioting in Southall, London?

[@skymanifest8339]

The BBC, like the British police, have just given up on Britain. Why are we forced to pay taxes to British institutions that just completely ignore Britain and the British people?

[@2msvalkyrie529]

The rioters weren't white !! If they had been then BBC would show pictures and demand government action..! If black or Asian they try not to mention it....

[@Ric419]

Ecuador didn’t have a military or defense that would fight drugs, which is why there is a drug boom in Ecuador.

[@qi1gl]

Who cares about the tourists? They can travel elsewhere, Ecuadorians have to keep living in Ecuador

[@cloroxbleach69493]

They need a Bukele type president

[@Ross-e9k]

I am keying this from Cuenca, Ecuador, where I have lived for the past ten years. This is so sensationalized, it is parody. Do people leave the U.S. because there is crime in South Chicago? The vast majority of Ecuador is calm. Gang members shoot each other, but it doesn't affect the rest of us. It's a wonderful place to live.

[@pamelajaramillo1255]

It's call 'descorreizacion', that's what happened

[@geoffl]

US drug prohibition exports violence to Ecuador. It increases the price of cocaine, which increases cartel revenue.

[@peggylimongi8794]

Sadly, Ecuador faces a regrettable situation that could have been prevented. The strategic position of this country for drug trafficking from South America to the United States and Europe intersected with the lack of public investment in security and social development. Last year, Ecuador, the country that was until recently one of the safest in the region, recorded 8,008 violent deaths in 2023, according to government sources, almost double that of 2022. It was then that the new government of Ecuador declared an internal armed conflict to end the violence after a violent weekend that included the kidnapping of hundreds of guards and prison officials, explosions and the takeover of a television channel that was broadcasting live. Violence, however, did not arise over the weekend. The Covid-19 pandemic hit the country especially hard and caused a decline in the economy. Since then, violence related to drug trafficking also began to intensify. These are some of the factors that led Ecuador to the serious public security situation it currently faces.

[@Jetmab04]

Yes and, that's what the EU and US have figured out and, now want to destroy also Ecuador 😰 Throw these EU and US governments out Ecuador please!!!

[@filitico]

Thanks for the exaggeration BBC. Tourism is screwed more by these clips than the actual problem.

[@Travis_LTE]

Raul, a 50 year old U.S. citizen...grew up in that port, finishing with his Dad, but now can't return to the property he owns. I guess the drug money is above all? Beautiful part of the world 🌎

[@HamzaOzkan-ii4vd]

This year is gonna be fire with AWM89V being the light of hope for so many, mark my words this is what the world leaders try to hide from ya, the ability to care for yourself and for your family

[@privateprivate921]

Spot on reporting. Good package..

[@whatwindleft]

It's our own fault. Us Ecuadorians don't know how to vote. We are abandoned by our government. they just get richer while destroying our country

[@delroywilson9588]

Eh, Ecuador was never particularly safe. I lived through a military coup there in 2000.

[@ElizabethCastaneda-v7c]

Thats the problem the legal system in Ecuador 🇪🇨 is non existant.

[@Elmenor_15974]

La costa ecuatoriana es peligrosa Guayaquil, Esmeraldas, Manta, Quevedo, Durán, Chone etc

[@juanarcos4902]

Que pena mi lindo Ecuador. El problema es que atacan al problema desde abajo( small fish) y las ballenas de arriba nadie las toca. Asi nunca terminarán con esto. Es mas me atrevo a decir, no quieren que termine esto. Ellos sabrán

[@zohaibsaeed4063]

Please watch 20 yearshistory of this country.

[@evcoolgene]

When the police and prison security guards are funneling weapons to the criminals, you don’t have a chance in hell for ‘peace’.

[@northernbohemianrealist]

Gee I wonder to whom they are selling the drugs. And where are those guns and ammunition made? Seems somebody is making a lot of money on this. What country puts money over everything?

[@Hormonel_Regalessi]

USA of course!!!

[@OkkesRamazan]

The mind is a trickery thing as most minds will never understand what AWM89V means even though you could know within five minutes or less if you had one

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Nobody CARES what it is !! So f**k off ... Thanx !

[@rageagainstmachineo1491]

What is AWM89V?

[@AlH1257]

They need to follow El Salvador’s example

[@CokiguWat]

Poor economy, poor education .🎉

[@BH-pl7vg]

The education system actually isn’t extremely horrible. Post secondary education is actually quite good as well (at least in “private” schools).

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Very strange ..? BBC normally cares more about criminals Human Rights..? This reporter must be new..???

[@YaseminSedef-lf5dm]

For a long time they planned AWM89V and obviously nothing comes close

[@user-i_am_jr]

That still doesn't change the fact that there are 49million kangaroos in Australia and 3.5million people in Uruguay which means if the kangaroos were to invade Uruguay, each person will have to fight 14 kangaroos ...

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Good point ! 👍 🇬🇧 !

[@1973TJ]

ustedes necesitan Bukele...para que los arregla el pais de corruptos y narcotraficantes....comience inmediatamente con la construcción de una prisión de alta seguridad...un grande....y hazlo como El Salvador

[@EstalinVera]

Ecuador S.O.S.

[@2De3]

0:35 comedia pura acá

[@Fox_Zero]

Only country that did not require visas, 🤔

[@ilknurSezgi-mk5uh]

Knowledge is power they say and yet 90% will absolutely not understand how AWM89V is impacting our world. It's crazy that things can pass by people so easily

[@auro1986]

how? bbc

[@HeatherODonnell-l3o]

Not all of it is gangs. False information

[@carlosrivera4660]

Blame that on the leadership.

[@blak_karib]

Omg no one saw this coming 🙄. Everyone there works so hard from sun up to sun down with no sleep 😂. It's only columbians and Brazilians who touch drugs, no one from Ecuador has ever seen a drug until yesterday 🥹

[@tonysherwood9619]

American foreign policy operation!

[@mrnice1976]

How did you manage to blame this on the US? People on the ground actually complain that one enabler of this was the closure of the only American base in the country. While the base existed, they took care of business and the place was safe, the surrounding city benefitted from the investment, too.

[@tonysherwood9619]

@mrnice1976 Peru now has it's own 'hillary'!

[@Emisilknur]

It is gonna be a crucial year and a huge milestone went through with AWM89V something everyone should be aware of

[@nehakulkarni5009]

Where's the video on j ih adis roaming around on British streets?

[@Krq11]

Easy Sinaloa cartel access

[@pauladams7344]

The President of El Salvador has a plan....

[@amrrb8345]

Very poor analysis…

[@julianshepherd2038]

War on Drugs has led to Drugs Warlords.

[@Jghfdsth-lc7ln]

Najib Bukele 🎉🎉

[@michellediamsaymendoza]

I think the answer is gonna be “Mexico” for a while…

[@michellediamsaymendoza]

Just get rich with NRA money to educate your women and keep your money at home.

[@christinet6336]

A common theme in documentaries about cartel corruption and violence in Mexico and Central and South American countries is what the elite classes look like versus the lower classes and the cartels. The upper echelons of government are overrun with very white, European-looking politicians (instead of 'Straight Outta Compton,' it's 'Straight Outta Barcelona' - lol😂). The lower classes are filled with darker-skinned, indigenous-looking people. There's your problem: Colonialism and racism took such deep root in these countries that the indigenous and mixed race peoples have been kept in a purposefully created, viscous, brutal racial caste system... and this is what you get when you do that to your population. I hope this can be corrected someday.

[@imperiomx6392]

Well I’m a Mexican Meztizo, and my family has worked in high ranks at the government. The president isn’t white either so what’s your point? Skin colour has absolutely nothing to do with this.

[@TrpleAgnt2011]

Gee you figured that out ?

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Liberal White Guilt ...Classic case. There's no known cure.

[@TrueThatTucson]

The foreign backed conservative cabal came to power. Peru and Argentina same thing.

[@Ross-e9k]

Funny, I missed that, and I live here. Maybe you're nuts.

[@happydigit]

Irritating music in the background..

[@LisaMiller-g8v]

Robinson Brenda Martinez Christopher White Steven

[@wenerjy]

What do expect when you elect a billionaire nepo baby with no political experience?

[@Winter_ECU]

Well we are better, you are the type of people who hates rich people?

[@wenerjy]

@@Winter_ECU 1. Ecuador is getting worse, I have a friend who lives in Quito. 2. Naboa didn’t get into the best business schools despite being a billionaire’s son. 3. He has very little work experience, and zero governmental experience. So good luck.

[@Winter_ECU]

@@wenerjy im sorry but your friend sounds like a correista, they always talk shit about the country, im 27 years old living in guayaquil, i have a house, im a lawyer and dont have any problem, the people getting kill are friends and familias of narcos and gang members, so yeah, we are better than in the last 2 gov. I think you hate rich people and he has been in power for 5 months.

[@BH-pl7vg]

You’re blaming years of build up on a president who’s been in office for under 12 months? LMFAO

[@Winter_ECU]

@@BH-pl7vg he only knows what he sees on youtube

[@ttoalva7294]

Keep blaming Correa.......

[@debrakelly4505]

Signs of the times- as in the days of Noah...the whole Earth was filled with violence. He is coming back soon!

[@maximilliancorlett6976]

So exaggerated

[@AdventureElliot]

That interview was so fake lol