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Violent Gang Splits in Quito: What You Need to Know

The Lobos, a major narco-criminal gang in Ecuador, has splintered, and the fallout is raising concerns about a potential spike in violent crime in Quito. Similar divisions within the gang have already caused deadly violence in other regions like Manabí and Azuay. According to Ecuadorian police, three rival leaders are now vying for control of the capital's drug trade, intensifying the risks of violent confrontations.

Who Are the Key Figures?

The Lobos' internal split has given rise to a faction known as the Lobos Invisibles. The group is reportedly led by three individuals with extensive criminal histories:

- Fabricio Colón Pico (*alias* "El Salvaje"): Recently sentenced for threatening the State Attorney General and her young daughter.

- Elvis Conde (*alias* "Maduro"): Convicted of murdering lawyer Harrison Salcedo and implicated in a prison escape in early 2024.

- Danny Córdova (*alias* "Comandante M" or "Fuerte"): Also a key player in the escalating rivalry.

These individuals are fighting for dominance in Quito’s lucrative drug market, where cocaine and marijuana are the most trafficked substances.

Practical Implications and Actions to Take

The escalating violence could significantly impact safety in Quito, particularly if authorities are unable to contain the gang disputes. To minimize risks:

1. Stay Informed: Monitor news and official safety alerts for updates on high-risk areas.

2. Avoid Certain Neighborhoods: Refrain from visiting areas known for drug activity or violence.

3. Plan Travel Carefully: Consider secure transportation options and avoid traveling alone at night.

Source: La Hora.

Scopolamine and Tinder: a dangerous scam targeting young people in Cuenca

A troubling incident in Cuenca highlights the risks of online dating apps like Tinder. A local young man, Pedro Tenorio, shared his experience of being drugged, assaulted, and robbed after meeting someone through the app. His story sheds light on a growing trend involving scopolamine, a powerful drug used to incapacitate victims.

The incident

On November 29, Tenorio arranged to meet a woman he had been chatting with on Tinder. The meeting took place at a mall in Cuenca, but he quickly noticed discrepancies. "Her appearance didn’t match her photos," Tenorio said, admitting he ignored this red flag.

After a brief conversation, the woman insisted they go to a park instead of a restaurant or bar. While there, a man claiming to be her brother arrived in a black car. The pair offered Tenorio a drink, and shortly after consuming it, he lost consciousness.

The aftermath

Tenorio woke up hours later, injured and disoriented. A taxi driver found him walking along a street in Cuenca, bloodied and crying. He had been beaten and robbed of his laptop, phone, wallet, and $500 in cash, including his recent paycheck.

Growing Concerns

This incident isn’t isolated. Similar cases have been reported in Cuenca and other regions. Scopolamine, often referred to as "devil’s breath," is commonly used in such scams in Colombia and is now appearing in Ecuador. Mixed with alcohol, the drug can erase memory and render victims compliant, making them easy targets.

Safety Measures

Authorities and experts urge both locals and tourists to exercise caution when meeting strangers from dating apps:

Verify profiles carefully: Even verified accounts can be fake due to advanced AI technologies.
Meet in public places: Avoid isolated locations or private areas.
Avoid accepting drinks: Only consume drinks you’ve seen prepared.

Tenorio's case has caught the attention of the provincial governor, Santiago Malo, who pledged to address the issue. Meanwhile, Tenorio continues to recover from both physical injuries, including a fractured nose, and the emotional toll of the attack.

Source: Primicias.

Ecuador extends state of exception in six provinces and two cantons

The Ecuadorian government has extended the state of exception for 30 more days in six provinces and two cantons. This decision was made by President Daniel Noboa through Executive Decree 469, signed on Monday, December 2, 2024.

The state of exception, declared due to severe internal unrest, includes the provinces of Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, El Oro, and Orellana, as well as the Metropolitan District of Quito (Pichincha) and the canton of Camilo Ponce Enríquez (Azuay).

This extension follows the conditions set out in the original declaration from October. The government emphasized that the primary goal of the measure is to ensure public order, social peace, and peaceful coexistence.

What This means for you

If you're in one of the affected areas, expect increased military and police patrols. While these measures aim to improve safety, be aware of potential disruptions to daily life, including checkpoints and stricter enforcement of public order regulations.

Source: El Universo.

New curfew in parts of Ecuador

The president has decreed a new curfew for parts of Ecuador from 10 pm to 5 am. See the image for the cantons with a curfew.

'Plata o plomo' for fishermen in Salinas

Primicias has a story about how fishermen in the Salinas region are forced to work for drug gangs. This article gives a good insight into what's going on in the ports and beaches of this region.

Salinas and its surrounding areas are key points for sending cocaine to the USA and Europe.
Unlike in Guayaquil, small fishing boats are used to transport drugs here.
The gangs operate by the "plata o plomo" principle: fishermen are asked to transport cocaine in exchange for money (plata), and if they refuse, they may get killed (plomo means "lead" in English and stands for the lead of bullets).
The following gangs operate in the Salinas region: Los Choneros, Los Lagartos, Los Tiguerones, Los Chone Killers, and Los Lobos.
Fishermen rarely meet the top leaders of the drug operations; they usually only deal with middlemen.
Fishermen earn around USD 10,000 per shipment, typically receiving USD 5,000 before a shipment and USD 5,000 after. However, they do not always receive the latter amount.
Fishermen run the risk of getting involved in confrontations between competing gangs at sea and also risk being extorted by rival gangs.

2024 half-year crime statistics for Quito

Primicias has published an article with crime statistics for the first half of 2024 for the Quito metropolitan area. In this article, the first half of 2024 is compared to the first half of 2023. It appears that most crime numbers have increased compared to last year. Note that most crime is not reported and therefore isn't included in the statistics.

Some statistics

The three most dangerous districts are Eloy Alfaro, Eugenio Espejo, and La Delicia. These three districts account for 59% of the 6,746 crimes that were reported in the Quito metropolitan area in the first six months of 2024.
Car theft skyrockets. Between January 1 and June 23, 2024, the police counted 1,232 stolen vehicles, compared to 675 in 2023. These numbers show an increase of 573 incidents, equivalent to 83%.
Motorcycle theft also skyrockets. So far in 2024, the police have recorded an increase of 27% compared to the same period in 2023.
Fewer robberies of commercial premises and homes. In the first case, the drop was 32%, and in the second, 30%.
Fewer detainees. Despite the increase in crimes committed in Quito, the number of detainees by the National Police shows a drop. The official report of the entity indicates that the 95,388 operations carried out between January 1 and June 24, 2024, resulted in 5,097 detainees. This is fewer than the 5,184 apprehended in the same period of 2023.
Fewer recovered motorcycles. The number of recovered motorcycles went from 216 to 196.
Fewer seized firearms. The number of confiscated firearms was reduced from 294 to 286.
More recovered cars. So far this year, the police have recovered 304 vehicles, compared to 223 in the same period of 2023.

Scopolamine robberies in the La Pradera neighborhood

The article mentions the La Pradera neighborhood for scopolamine robberies. This neighborhood is located directly south of Parque La Carolina and is popular for its nightlife. It has a high number of robbery victims. In this neighborhood, criminals operate around the bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. After identifying their victims, they steal their belongings using scopolamine.

An Example of violent cellphone robbery

The article gives an example of a violent cellphone robbery in the La Villaflora neighborhood, which is part of the Eloy Alfaro district, one of the three most dangerous districts of Quito:

The cellphone theft almost cost the life of Andrés S., who, on the night of June 15, 2024, was stabbed by two subjects in the La Villaflora sector, in the south of Quito. The help he received from the residents of the sector prevented him from bleeding to death and allowed him to reach a clinic to receive urgent medical attention. His mother Esthela A. says that her son was returning from a party when he was intercepted by two men, who threatened to kill him if he did not give them his cellphone. "My son objected and was stabbed without any qualms. They almost killed him," she recalls.

Danger at every corner: How Ecuadoran city of Guayaquil became unliveable

France 24 has published a documentary about the security crisis in Guayaquil. Guayaquil has always been a city with security problems, but the situation has deteriorated since last year.

Study: Four out of Every 10 Small Businesses in Ecuador Have Been Victims of Extortion

Primicias reported that a recent study revealed that four out of every 10 small businesses in Ecuador faced extortion in 2023.

Since 2021, extortion of businesses in Ecuador has surged, becoming a major funding source for drug gangs. The Ecuadorian Organized Crime Observatory (OECO) surveyed 458 business owners in various regions, finding that in 2023, three out of every 10 companies were extorted, with 40% of cases going unreported.

Small businesses are frequent targets because they lack security measures. According to the OECO, 38% of small business owners experienced extortion in the last year, often facing multiple demands.

Extortion methods include calls, electronic messages, and visits. Besides extortion, companies also suffer from kidnapping, vandalism, fraud, and theft. Smaller businesses face more extortion, while larger ones experience more kidnappings.

In 2023, there were 21,811 extortion reports, a 2,430% increase from 2019. The rise was notable in 2023, with Guayas, Pichincha, Esmeraldas, and Los Ríos being the most affected provinces.

Violent expat home invasion in the Vilcabamba area

On Monday, June 10, 2024, an expat couple became the victims of a violent home invasion in El Carmen, a village 12 km north of Vilcabamba. This is one of many home invasions in the Vilcabamba area, but the violent nature of this incident makes it stand out.

Below you can read a document that was published about this home invasion. I don't know who the author of the document is, but Nicholas Crowder, one of the administrators of the Ecuador Expat Discussion Facebook group and in contact with the victims, told me that the documents accurately describe what happened during the home invasion.

LANDANGUI HOME INVASION
CRIME REPORT & SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT
FOR WIDESPREAD DISTRIBUTION

(document has been reviewed and approved by the victims)

Date and Time of Incident.
Monday 10th June - 8 masked robbers (7 men - 1 woman), some with guns, walked freely onto the property between 6.15 and 6.30 in the evening. This means they walked up just before dark. Take serious note of that, people ... and do whatever you need to do to adjust your thinking and preparation moving forward.

Victims.
The victims are a US couple in their 70s.

Perpetrators.
It would seem these monsters who are destroying the fabric, amenity, and overall ambience of this regional community are mostly young ... men in their 20s, for the most part. The fact a woman was involved in this crime is even more disturbing, given the horror of what took place. We think they are local … a blend of Vilcabamba & Malacatos.

Circumstances of the Attack
1. At the time of the attack, the woman was outside in the back garden area of the property’s grounds.
2. Her husband was in the house.
3. Although the house itself is well enough secured, the house was NOT yet locked, because the victims were still in the mode of moving freely about their property, prior to locking down for the night.
4. This underscores the need for increased vigilance and awareness in the latter part of the late afternoon/evening … such that you don’t get taken by surprise on your own grounds PRIOR to locking down for the night.
5. Victims were quickly apprehended/overcome, gagged, hog-tied and abused … for the following nearly TWELVE hours.

Nature of the Attack.
1. The perpetrators were on-site for a little less than twelve full hours, leaving in the early hours of the following morning (about 6am or thereabouts).
2. For a variety of reasons, we believe at least some of these criminals are high on "base" or some other chemical stimulant at the time they attack.
3. They were well-dressed, mostly in black, and did not smell of alcohol or appear to be drunk ... but as they settled in for the night, they smoked pot, danced, joked, mocked, and otherwise humiliated the victims. They took their time.
4. The woman was repeatedly RAPED and SODOMIZED … by one of these monsters ... over the course of these many hours.
5. The property was completely stripped by these criminals … they took EVERYTHING, down to the carpets, furniture, appliances, and food in the cupboards.
6. An accomplice (or accomplices) … possibly a criminal taxista … probably arrived at some point to help them load up all this stolen property.

Subsequent Events.
After eventually freeing themselves, the male victim traveled by taxi to the Malacatos UPC and reported the crime. Two police-officers returned with him to the house, to clarify events further, which is when they were informed of the rape. The police-officers then left, saying they would soon return … but never came back. No kind of formal crime-scene recording or investigation was apparently even attempted … then or since. It is worth noting a variety of factors here: language-barriers, a lack of professionalism and duty of care from the police, and a lack of understanding of formal/necessary process (from both police and victims) … contributed to a situation wherein at the end of the day, only the ROBBERY aspect of this crime was noted in the Fiscalia in Loja, but NOT the rape.
This was subsequently rectified in recent days with the assistance of knowledgeable (and bilingual) volunteer-citizens, who helped the victims complete this arduous process … such that the case is now properly lodged, with ALL the requisite crimes and details recorded. The Fiscalia is now AWARE we have a serious situation in the region. There is much to be said here which is not for this document … in respect of how shambolic and unprofessional police-procedure was in this case (as well as many others). This level of apathy, negligence, lack of formal process, lack of victim-care (referral to appropriate medical authorities, etc) … not to mention potential complicity … will be addressed with higher authorities.

Response and Immediate Actions.
Clearly we need to take these violent sickos off the board. To address this serious threat, it is imperative to disseminate accurate information about the state of play … and thereby dispel incorrect and unhelpful rumors. This document serves as an accurate historical record of the crime (and overarching regional criminal context) … and is also a platform … from which we can inform and support ongoing efforts to apprehend these dangerous criminals.

Additional Analysis - Bigger Picture - Moving Forward.
1. This attack signifies an escalation in heinousness and depravity … that is unparalleled in respect of incidents seen in recent months and years. Accordingly, we are at an altogether new situational threat level.
2. Notwithstanding that rape was not a factor elsewhere, the MO of this attack has been similar in at least two other instances … those other crimes having taken place in recent months in Cucanama and Santorum.
3. Elderly gringos, particularly women, living in isolated locations ... appear to be the preferred target/demographic.
4. This latest atrocity is an extremely disturbing escalation. The perpetrators displayed a level of cruelty and vindictiveness beyond mere robbery … indicating possible gringo-hatred.
5. Most disturbingly, there is serious reason to believe that one or two key people in Vilcabamba ... are significantly infiltrated within the expat-community, and proactively ingratiate themselves into gringo confidences, groups, and activities ... with a view to targeting perceived gringo wealth ... by whatever means possible. Every day, such individuals are actively profiling and targeting specific gringos ... in order to potentially unleash these attack-dogs as and when necessary (assuming they haven't found other ways to relieve these gringos of their wealth in some ongoing and less violent way).
6. Accordingly, expats in Vilcabamba and surrounds would be very well advised to exercise extreme caution in dealings with locals who fit this criteria … wherein potentially sensitive and actionable information is being gleaned in any way, shape or form. The level of care/caution one must take in this respect cannot be stressed enough. You may indeed already be “friends” with such an individual. If you think you need to pull back from a person like this, do it. Be. Very. Careful.

Conclusions.
1. Obviously, people need to GET REAL about the inherent hostility of the environment we are currently faced with. As someone once said, "Adapt or Die."
2. This is the regional reality at the moment, and we need to think, prepare, and respond accordingly.
3. How people do this is up to them … but continuing to live in any kind of “Shangri-La” dream-world … is clearly not an option at the present time.
4. Preventative measures might include … Fences, Alarms, Cameras, Floodlights, Motion-Sensor-Lights, Serious Dogs, Neighborhood Watch Groups, Neighborhood Cameras, Walkie-Talkies, WhatsApp/Telegram Groups. Collaboration. Plus whatever else works for your situation. Figure it out.
5. Unless and until we get some kind of serious professional and meaningful response from the so-called "authorities" here ... we are on our own, people. Act accordingly ... in every sense of the word. Better to be judged by twelve, than carried by six, so to speak. And better for it not to get to that point at all, if that’s at all possible.

Contact.
This document was jointly created by volunteer citizens in an effort to help these victims and to better inform the community of Vilcabamba and surrounding areas. If you have ANY information that could assist in this matter (or more generally, in respect of our regional crime situation moving forward) … the community would obviously very much welcome your input.

Some thoughts about this home invasion and the security situation in the Vilcabamba area:

Home invasions are not new in the Vilcabamba area. Every few years, there seems to be a new wave of home invasions. Some people claim that in 2023, a new home invasion occurred every two weeks.
The violence of this home invasion is remarkable. Previously, there were also sometimes violent home invasions in the Vilcabamba area, but this one is clearly a new low, aside from the home invasion during which an expat was shot dead last year.
The attackers had a hostile attitude. The fact is that some locals have little regard for expats. One possible reason is that Vilcabamba has a very high percentage of expats, which has led to high housing prices in the area. There are, of course, locals who profit from this, but there are also many locals for whom owning a home has become too expensive. Additionally, there is little integration of expats into the local community.
A possible taxi driver is mentioned as an accomplice. Taxi drivers in Ecuador are often involved in criminal activities. It is therefore advisable never to give your exact home address to a taxi driver. Never let a taxi stop exactly at the place where you live. Only walk to your house once the taxi is out of sight.
It is not surprising that in this case, the police were passive and did not conduct a thorough investigation. This is a known problem in Ecuador. One possibility is that the police are somehow involved in these robberies.
The author suggests that locals actively seek contact with expats and befriend them to profile them. This is certainly a possibility. Therefore, it is important to be careful about sharing sensitive information and inviting people into your home.
The author provides good preventive measures. These measures reduce the risk of becoming a victim of home invasions, but this is by no means a guarantee that nothing can happen. These home invasions are not crimes of opportunity but seem to be well-prepared.
A safer alternative to the Vilcabamba area is the Yunguilla Valley, south of Cuenca. The climate and landscape are similar. While the Vilcabamba area is popular among wealthy people from Loja, Yunguilla is popular among wealthy people from Cuenca. Unlike the Vilcabamba area, home invasions are not a problem in the Yunguilla area. There are virtually no reports of home invasions in the Yunguilla Valley.

Guayaquil is one of the 24 most violent cities in the world

Guayaquil registered 1,537 murders in 2022. Its homicide rate was 48 per 100,000 inhabitants. Guayaquil ranks 24th in the list of the most violent cities of 2022, prepared by the Citizen Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice of Mexico.

Expat bar owner shot in the leg during a robbery

The owner of Cava's Sports Bar in Salinas, an expat, was shot in the leg during the robbery of his venue this afternoon. Friends have visited him in the hospital where he is treated and say that he is OK and in good spirits.