Sky News Daily

Inside Ecuador's crackdown on drug cartels

Feb 28, 2024

Exploring Ecuador's surge in violence due to drug cartels, with a focus on the government crackdown and societal impacts. Revealing rare access to a prison in Esmeraldas as part of efforts to combat the escalating violence.

21:14

Creator website

Episode guests

Stuart Ramsay

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Ecuador faced a surge in violence due to Mexican drug cartels, leading to economic downfall and societal terror.

The Ecuadorian government declared war on drug cartels, reclassifying gang actions as terrorism to disrupt the cycle of violence.

Deep dives

Growth of Drug Cartels in Ecuador and Turf Wars

Ecuador, once one of the safest countries in South America, experienced a rapid surge in violence due to the intrusion of powerful Mexican drug cartels. The arrival of the Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation cartel sparked turf wars over drug trafficking routes, leading to an increase in murders and gang control. The local gangs, affiliated with these cartels, terrorized society, causing economic downfall, unemployment, and reliance on cartels for employment.

Introduction

3min

Escalation of Violence and Government Crackdown on Cartels in Ecuador

5min

Impact of Police Operations on Unaccustomed Communities in Ecuador

3min

Disrupting Drug Cartel Influence and Prison Transformations

8min

Global Ramifications of Drug Demand and Cartel Control

2min

Ecuador has become the deadliest country in South America with drug gangs and their Mexican cartel bosses murdering people, detonating car bombs and terrorising communities.

The violence exploded earlier this year with gangs promising insurrection after the president of Ecuador put in place a nationwide crackdown following the escape of a drug lord from prison, and armed attack on a TV station.

On this edition of Sky News Daily, Tom Cheshire speaks to our chief correspondent Stuart Ramsay, who has had rare access to a prison in the coastal city of Esmeraldas, as the government tries to get a handle on the violence that's taken over Ecuador.

Producer: Sydney Pead
Assistant producers: Iona Brunker, Evan Dale
Promotion Producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John
Editor: Philly Beaumont

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Sky News Daily

Inside Ecuador's crackdown on drug cartels

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Growth of Drug Cartels in Ecuador and Turf Wars

Government Crackdown and Response to Cartel Influence

International Collaboration and Long-Term Challenges

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts