Ecuador in a hell of a drug gang conflict. "Here, death is paid with death".

Ecuador has become a battleground for drug cartels, with violence escalating to unprecedented levels. In the city of Durán, one of the country’s most affected regions, police captain Jean Carlos Bustamante faces daily threats from criminal gangs. His unit operates under constant danger, as both criminals and corrupt officials pose a threat. “We have many bad people within our unit, in the state and in politics,” he says. “Many are corrupt. The gangs pay them.” Captain Bustamante, who is 34 years old and among the oldest in his team, leads operations with the caution of a special forces officer, despite having once served in such roles. He moves through impoverished neighborhoods where windows are barred with metal grids, and fear keeps residents silent. This area is the heartland of the Los Aguilas gang. When asked what happens to locals who speak against the cartel, he replies bluntly: “They will be killed.” Thus, silence reigns. During one operation, Captain Bustamante and his team entered a derelict house they believe serves as a weapons cache. Fully armed, they approached the building and forced entry. Inside, they found two pistols, one rusted, the other still functional, and a rifle used for ambushes. He expresses satisfaction with the result. “First, because we are safe,” he says. “Second, because the gangs now have two fewer guns.” Yet this small victory comes amid an exhausting war. He acknowledges that the gangs possess “a lot of weapons and much more money than the state.” Risks are well known, during the fight against these groups, he lost three close friends. Fear has long since left him, but his parents remain concerned. “My mother tells me to be careful because I can die,” he says. “My father calls me constantly and asks: ‘Son, are you okay? Let me know you’re all right.’” The path to this conflict began with the flow of drugs from neighboring Colombia and Peru, two of the world’s largest producers. These powerful domestic gangs, linked to Mexican cartels and Albanian mafia networks, facilitate cocaine trafficking. They exploit weak border controls, underfunded security forces, and the vast coastline along the Pacific Ocean. What was once a peaceful tourist destination in South America has become a site of mass killings in less than a decade. Last year, murder rates reached some of the highest globally. According to data from Ecuador’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, over 9,200 people were killed. Despite sharp measures taken by President Daniel Noboa in the past two years, critics argue these efforts have had the opposite effect. High-ranking criminal leaders have been arrested, leading to fragmentation of gangs, their multiplication, and bloody battles for dominance. Many here believe the war against crime can never be won. Captain Bustamante continues to fight. In another operation, he waited in ambush while drones from above monitored streets. He spotted three individuals near a playground and identified them as “small dealers” caught in the act. Within minutes, he and his team followed the suspects to their home. Again, they broke down the door and entered the kitchen, where a middle-aged woman protested and a child began to cry. Officers moved through the darkened rooms, searching for evidence. With no electricity, they opened wardrobes and lifted mattresses. On the upper floor, they discovered a hidden stash behind a window. A young suspect emerged and was led away. Two others were bound with cloth ties in another room. All three were taken away, though they denied selling drugs. Nearby, Captain Bustamante found small pieces of paper, likely remnants of transactions. The battle continues, with each operation bringing new challenges and risks. As the war against organized crime rages on, the struggle for safety and justice remains far from over.