Ecuador’s Security Crisis: The Human Cost of a Nation Transformed

Once celebrated as one of the safest countries in the Americas, Ecuador is currently grappling with a profound security crisis. The nation, known for its diverse landscapes ranging from the Amazon Rainforest to the Galápagos Islands, has seen its internal stability fractured by the rapid expansion of organized crime. This shift has turned the country into a focal point for international cocaine trafficking, leaving civilians—and particularly young people—caught in a cycle of extreme violence and enforced disappearances.

The Shift Toward Instability

The transformation of Ecuador into a hub for criminal activity is largely attributed to its geography. Positioned between Colombia and Peru, the world’s two largest cocaine producers, Ecuador has become a primary transit route for global narcotics trafficking. This logistical importance has invited a surge in power for criminal groups such as Los Choneros, Los Lobos, and Los Tiguerones.

The impact on public safety has been severe. According to Camila Ruiz Segovia, a Human Rights Defender at Amnesty International, the country’s homicide rates in certain coastal cities have reached alarming levels, placing residents at constant risk of being caught in the crossfire of gang-related violence. The violence reached a critical point in recent years, with 2025 recording a significant number of homicides, marking a stark departure from the country’s historical profile.

The Crisis of Disappearances

One of the most harrowing consequences of this instability is the sharp rise in missing persons. Ecuadorian authorities reported thousands of missing individuals in the last year alone, a figure that experts from the International Crisis Group, including analyst Glaeldys González Calanche, describe as a deepening crisis. These cases encompass both criminal kidnappings and incidents of “enforced disappearance,” where individuals are taken by state authorities or actors acting with their support, followed by a refusal to disclose their whereabouts.

Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable. Data from the country’s interior ministry indicates that thousands of minors have vanished between 2022 and 2025. Criminal organizations frequently target this demographic for recruitment and exploitation, while the militarization of public security has added a new layer of risk for residents in marginalized communities.

Accountability and the Case of the Las Malvinas Four

The struggle for justice is exemplified by the case of four boys—Ismael and Josue Arroyo, Nehemías Arboleda, and Steven Medina—who disappeared and were later found dead. In December 2025, a court sentenced 11 Ecuadorian soldiers to 34 years in prison each for their involvement in the forced disappearance of the teenagers. While the case highlighted the dangers posed by both criminal gangs and state forces, it also served as a rare example of legal accountability for military-involved abuses.

Government Response and Military Intervention

Following his election in 2023, President Daniel Noboa launched the “Phoenix Plan,” an “iron-fist” security strategy aimed at neutralizing criminal organizations. The government has declared states of emergency and deployed tens of thousands of troops to patrol cities and manage the prison system. However, the efficacy of this militarized approach remains a subject of intense debate.

Critics, including human rights organizations, argue that the government’s reliance on military-led operations has produced only limited results while leading to mounting allegations of abuses against civilians. As the army takes on police-like functions in many regions, the fear among the populace has shifted from solely being victims of criminal gangs to also being at risk of violence from state security forces.

Key Takeaways

• Geopolitical Pressure: Ecuador’s location between major cocaine-producing nations has facilitated its transition into a critical trafficking route.
• Escalating Violence: Homicide rates have experienced a dramatic increase, with 2025 marking a period of record-breaking violence.
• Vulnerability of Youth: Adolescents are increasingly targeted by criminal groups for recruitment and are also victims of state-involved disappearances.
• Militarized Security: While the government’s “Phoenix Plan” seeks to curb gang influence, experts note that criminal factions remain resilient, and the military’s expanded powers have raised human rights concerns.

Looking Ahead

The situation in Ecuador remains volatile. Despite the government’s efforts to reclaim control over prisons and territory, the fragmentation of criminal gangs and the ongoing reliance on military force suggest that the security crisis will not be easily resolved. For the families of the missing and those living in the most affected coastal regions, the search for safety and accountability continues to be an urgent, daily struggle.