Upheaval in Ecuador: Gangs, drugs, a live TV takeover | About That

Violence erupted in Ecuador this past weekend when notorious drug lord Adolfo (Fito) Macías escaped from prison. Andrew Chang breaks down the chaos and why authorities have struggled to restore peace in this small coastal nation.
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[@sabrosso1]

Im Ecuadorian and this has been so far the most accurately and well produced video that i have seen on the matter around KZbin.

[@andrewmanford]

My friend lives in Ecuador and he said similar. He was also watching the live Tv when that happened. Crazy, be safe!

[@MONKeEeYboi]

Stay safe my friend 👊💜

[@abeddani992]

What exactly is happening now? Is there still conflict or the army crushed them?

[@newplayer483]

About that deserves its own KZbin channel.

[@a.kenneth3521]

I lived in Ecuador in 1978. There were some tough times then, but nothing close to this. It’s difficult to see this wonderful country falling into disarray due to cartels.

[@tittentei7331]

Cartels is controlled by the gouvernment. Even in your little country.

[@alexxx7066]

Lol dude the corrupt governments are the problem lmao 😂

[@bhadboititanbeat]

@@tittentei7331where you from?

[@mimisoleil6375]

#Haiti fought along side back in the 1800 #Lunionfaitlaforce

[@onitaiwo6584]

They need the El Salvador president.

[@vincevincent6984]

Closest I’ll ever come to visiting Ecuador is thru google earth when I’m feeling adventurous 🤣

[@Scooby4344]

Thanks for the idea 😭😭

[@vincevincent6984]

@@Scooby4344 👍🤣

[@samcity5050]

Good summary Andrew & AT team. I have been a regular visitor to Ecuador for years and actually landed in Quito the same Sunday and was forced to cut my work trip short - left safely on Wednesday. Good balanced summary but some additions/suggestions: - A rival cartel leader (of Los Lobos) also escaped on Monday. - Shrimp is a bigger export than tuna. - Could quickly summarize the population of Ecuador (~18 million) and show how it's a country of outposts like Canada with two cordillera of the Andes (far from just Galapagos). It is a wonderful country of largely peaceful friendly people, and this crisis can be a huge opportunity to right the trajectory. (Look forward to seeing this AT channel grow!)

[@andrewsmith9174]

I left there from Guayaquil, was also in Cuenca a couple of days, Saturday. No indication this would happen. It is insane. There is getting to be too much influence from the Mexican and Colombian cartels and speculation of some Balkan immigrants. Recruiting of the disenfranchised Venezuelan immigrants. The country is unfortunately going to see a short period of difficult times. They could come out positively, but I hope it doesn’t affect the warmth and friendliness of the people. And side note, bananas and plantains are the number one export. One in three bananas world wide are from Ecuador. Love the country.

[@luisemilianogonzalezvinces3400]

@@andrewsmith9174as an Ecuatorian, thanks for the love.

[@andrewsmith9174]

@@luisemilianogonzalezvinces3400, I’ve been to Ecuador 15 times in four years. My wife will finally join me permanently in March. I love it there. I’ve been to several places. Nothing not to love about your country - except the altitude. It makes me feel like I’m 80 years old walking up stairs, and I referee soccer. I like Guayaquil, the heat and there is a lot to see and do.

[@FallofftheMap]

Thank you. This is the most accurate and complete report I’ve seen on what is happening here. Today Fito released a statement calling on the people to overthrow the government. He’s attempting to fashion himself as a man of the people, a narco trafficker who is also a social crusader and would be politician like Escobar

[@cmoney4114]

Why would you do thst and we've all seen the result of Escobar

[@tosheatower]

This is so weird to watch. I lived in Ecuador till mid 2022 and I always felt very safe there (although the locals always told me it wasn't). With the news I'm never sure if it's factual or sensationalism but if it's true it's really sad how quick of a downturn happened.

[@FallofftheMap]

I’ve been in Ecuador for a decade. This is accurate. The last few years things were getting worse quickly. This week it really went out of control. This is a war. Previously the mafias really only targeted each other and occasionally police a d politicians. Now they are targeting civilians in an attempt to destabilize society enough to cause the government to collapse.

[@DirtyLifeLove]

❤Your English is very good

[@dsp6373]

@@DirtyLifeLovehe lived in Ecuador as an expatriate. He has now returned to his native country where they speak English.

[@Escobarguzman7000]

Great video thanks

[@user-mi9gm9kh6w]

Accurate information. Weldone

[@efgtest]

Accurate information 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@donnah5378]

The world is a hot mess 😮

[@savagematchu836]

Yes scorching hot mess were and who next

[@thunderwarrior1759]

And sadly it’s only going to get worse. I live in a small English village and there’s talk from people that the big glass windows in everyday houses are no longer safe because how is a plain of glass going to stop those who want in to take what they want

[@-LightningRod-]

it's good to Know there arte other people that think so,..really . Don't forget to VOTE,... VOTE like yer life depends on it.

[@siretkuul3287]

I miss you!

[@Boboskoll]

Sk

[@bynder1967]

That 8000 kilo seizure is around 400 million dollars street value at 50 thousand a kilo. Even if it’s wholesaled for 20 thousand a kilo, its 160 million dollars. The craziest thing though is the cartel probably only pays between 1 to 5 thousand a kilo. For each big drug shipment that gets seized, 10 or 15 get through.

[@paulamarie43]

You’re the next Peter Mansbridge. Thank you for this piece.

[@MrHelmiaziz]

And for that the law enforcement globally has failed to tackle this drug menace that has took many lives globally. A comprehensive approach to tackle this issue is very much essential starting from the law ammendment itself then to the enforcement

[@smilingontime]

🙏🇪🇨😢

[@louislepage5111]

You never see this on CNN 😊

[@efgtest]

Bad actor faking stuff? All the time! this is new for Ecuador they can do it much better. They have a lot more to learn from CNN.

[@clumsiii]

at the end of the segment i really wished you said " take them to justice" instead of the inflammatory and threatening "take them down" Please choose your words with care.

[@aleksandarjovanovic398]

This is like Columbia during Eskobar... killed presedent kandidat, corupt prison... 😢

[@conociendoelislam85]

It is Colombia...aand yes! Ecuador has big problems now

[@Atite_Lometen]

Ok they do this in Canada too, some guy recorded his rap video from jail.

[@luisvasquez3029]

my familia vivían tan bien en Ecuador y tenían un negocio similar a auto zone pero ahora están en camino para estados unido por tierra ya que el consulado le negó la visa para salir de país dado que las pandillas han amenazado con sus vidas y la tortura que han tenido es triste lo que está pasando en el oriente ecuatoriano

[@AapVanDieKaap]

I'm South African. I really love that the Canadian tax payers are funding my KZbin addiction. You pay, I watch. Brilliant.

[@vienogola1421]

Aren't you paying for WiFi?

[@TheAshdan81]

You are welcome! Who knows? You might become a future Canadian and join us 😅

[@AapVanDieKaap]

@@TheAshdan81 I'm a 32 year old man who's never seen snow. I'm too scared.

[@lephilosopheinconnu3952]

LMAO​@@AapVanDieKaap

[@lephilosopheinconnu3952]

​@Th😅😅eAshdan81

[@4AMPizza]

I don’t understand. If they control the prisons, why don’t they escape?

[@suryoardi7109]

Its not the something new about criminal, gang or cartel leader control his ilegal bussines in prison. because it safest there than the outside, people will not think he is the reason of increase number criminal activity outside because people think he still in jail.

[@skipsterr91]

Ecuadorian corridos? I swear ive seen it all..

[@tondo3000]

I want that song

[@user-uv1oi8wt4y]

me to

[@lvovodessa]

The girl in the video is his daughter.

[@elconoetupepa]

El Corrido del Leon - Mariachi Bravo ft. Queen Michelle

[@tondo3000]

@@elconoetupepa YES!! Thanks my brother

[@junioruncle4378]

🇿🇦

[@birdsinparadise3113]

I think the guy shaved and hair cut, and just sitting there still in jail

[@MrHelmiaziz]

It’s not about the revenue from the cocain trade alone dear friend. But the government has allowed such drug laboratory and drug baron to operate their business like a king.

[@angelciuroresto6285]

They should follow El Salvador

[@chrisknoblock]

Seems like El Salvador figured out how to deal with their gang problem.

[@sarahjanejalalon5375]

👍

[@JoeRogansForehead]

They do this in the USA dude couple music videos shot in prison

[@mattgage4418]

so that's where liver king went!

[@LadyCleo1]

He needs a haircut and maybe dexedrine 5mg x 20, but j guess the prison pharmacy has had none in stock.😂😂😂

[@elconoetupepa]

Dude's like the Latin "Liver King" but with a potbelly.

[@jamespurdy4106]

As We decriminalize hard drugs, the innocent people in South America are forced to suffer the violence as rival gangs fight for control of the exploding market

[@Rohityourface]

I think legalization will make it so corporations take market control but idk if the cartel will let that slide

[@andrewmanford]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug.

[@kalimike3248]

how do you know?

[@alicesammy4152]

Its a cool drug, just highly addictive

[@tittentei7331]

Why not tell people that all CARTELS is controlled!

[@DirtyLifeLove]

Yike

[@michaelfischer841]

Duterte and Bukele know how to deal with stuff like this

[@chicagojeff]

Nope

[@kendoman5882]

Yeah he's a drug lord himself hahahaha.🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kendoman5882]

no dead Drug lord for 6 years

[@swaggery]

A start would be countries around the world start legalizing hard drugs. Better for governments to have the production and sale money instead of criminal gangs. At the same time it would make it easier for Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to stick to their policies, via having more budget for other stuff and not having cartels controlling land which they might run in contraction to what the government wants to happen.

[@wisdoma4860]

WE NEED TO SOBER UP IN OUR COUNTRY ....SAY NO TO DRGS .. Less DEMAND FROM Narcos.... EZ.

[@hughjass1044]

Legalizing doesn't do a damned thing as cannabis has proven. You won't put the cartels out of business, you'll just legalize their business. Now that cannabis is legal, most of the product still comes from illegitimate sources who can run their operations cheaper than legitimate ones can. Their revenues have hardly been affected at all.

[@swaggery]

@@hughjass1044 Because it's cheaper to pay a bunch of people brides and insanely high wages. For the sale side you completely destroy the criminal element, maybe just some people getting hobby income out of it. For production, illegal growing does exist, but you need massive production for it to be profitable. Which will mean it's easier to detect, and if there's a considerable enforcement effort 2 times of getting burned is going to make it difficult for anybody that doesn't have corporate levels of wealth behind them.

[@sl0ptart]

​@@hughjass1044it worked here in Canada... Unless you're buying pounds it's way cheaper in the stores than on the street. Illegal pot dealers have almost vanished, pretty much the only ones left are selling to teenagers that can't get it from legal sources. All legal weed sold comes from licensed farms and are inspected often, there are guidelines and laws in place to regulate purity and the safety of additives. Why would anyone choose street weed ever again? I don't see why other drugs would be any different.

[@hughjass1044]

Evidently, you don't know very much about how organized crime works. Nearly half of the money that Mexican cartels take in is from something other than drugs and about a third of it comes from legal enterprises. And you don't need a big drug operation to be profitable. People run drug labs out of spare rooms in their apartments.@@swaggery

[@kathym8453]

Governments are definitely involved, both north and south of the border.

[@FOLDMEDIA]

in Philippines our DOJ Secretary Leila De lima let prisoners shoot music video, yet they think she is a hero, google herbert colangco

[@smurphy231]

Stripping inmates for contraband is wild

[@bryankerr9174]

KZbin really wants me to watch CBC content. Time to turn off the autoplay.

[@ItsFritzDaCat]

Well, considering you have over a 100 comments on CBC videos... ya, I'd say youtube is giving you what you actually want...Al-Gore-ithms are working well clearly 😅

[@user-bb5yg3jl7g]

Ben 10 gang form please 😅

[@joecollins176]

Run el fito run el fito

[@ellee9604]

Fito on the move... He's getting ready for the Election IFYKYK

[@azizoris377]

Learn from Filipine

[@chairmanmeow5728]

hahaha thank to god im from first world country india can send you money

[@jebbush2964]

Ecuador needs an Ecuadorian Donald Trump to combat crime and drain the swamp.

[@lephilosopheinconnu3952]

Absolutely right. I'm ecuadorian btw

[@elconoetupepa]

Like if you like the music video at the beginning: El Corrido del Leon - Mariachi Bravo ft Queen Michelle

[@emerlamine8184]

We’re. Strongly believe in some never ever dream anyone drugs or any unlawfully but some are pushing harder and harder hatred between society but good things Almighty Allah already knows everything about all mankind including unseen including all mankind attention we wished everyone talkers with good enough reason almighty Allah protect everyone believers Ameen thank you everyone for sharing

[@vmitchinson]

😢Where is your coverage of Israel's Genocide?

[@iztjx26]

literally in their youtube channel, dont be dumb

[@celinepa8246]

It may come as a shock to you, but there are other conflicts, wars and atrocities ongoing in parallel that are equally deserving of media coverage. Why? Because some people are interested in more than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The global obsession with Israel is unreal.

[@Splendidchivalry]

​@@celinepa8246 Muslims only care about muslim.....People who follows other religion are not human as per them

[@ItsFritzDaCat]

My cat was hit by a car, why hasnt it been covered? I'm outraged... 😉

[@kumarg.3789]

Bro look like Pablo