Once considered Latin America’s “island of peace,” Ecuador is now among the most violent countries in the world. While the crisis is complex, a surge in transnational drug trafficking has driven the country’s descent into violence and insecurity. Located between two of the world’s top cocaine-producing countries, Ecuador has become a transit hub for drugs bound for the United States and Europe. Organized crime has become deeply entrenched in the country’s political and legal systems, weakening democratic governance and impeding efforts to stem the narcotics trade.
