Discussing the presence of groups such as the Choneros, Wolves, Tiguerones, and other street organizations has become a familiar topic in Ecuador. This issue isn’t about bands or sports teams; it concerns organized crime, territorial control, and the unsettling violence that grows as social inequality widens across the country’s cities and markets.
In the port city of Guayaquil, a metropolis of roughly three million people, these groups resurfaced this weekend. Following a fatal incident, a bomb exploded in the Cristo del Consuelo district, leaving five dead and at least twenty injured, some seriously, along with significant damage to homes already marked by insecurity. President Guillermo Lasso has declared a state of emergency for the third time since taking office in May 2021, offering a reward of up to ten thousand dollars for information about what occurred last Sunday. [citation: government briefing and local reporting]
New modalities
The recent violence illustrates how criminal networks are evolving their methods. Last April, an explosive vehicle detonated in front of a prison in the Guayas region. A month later, a similar attack occurred outside a community police unit. Security forces discovered improvised bombs near the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Judicial Council. While the nation absorbed the shock of the Cristo del Consuelo incident, authorities continued raids and arrests of alleged Tiguerones in that neighborhood, and a package containing a potentially explosive artifact was found north of Quito. [citation: law enforcement updates]
Commenting on the situation, a major newspaper offered a stark assessment: the country is enduring nearly daily disruptions as criminals press for reach and influence. Officials at the national level called on all branches of government to unite in efforts to prevent further bloodshed in Guayaquil and across the country. [citation: editorial column]
The expansion of drug trafficking appears to hinge on alliances with international networks that supply contraband. Reports indicate shipments of Colombian cocaine tied to Mexican cartels operating through ports and airports, with authorities reporting a substantial rise in seizures this year—nearly doubling figures from 2021. [citation: police and customs statistics]
Slums and prisons
Gangs are extending their reach into cities, seeking control over illicit trade routes and local economies. This battle for territory also involves the prison system. On July 18, a clash between rival factions at a Santo Domingo de los Colorados facility resulted in multiple inmate deaths. Earlier, similar violence claimed dozens of lives within the same center, and over the past two years, prison fatalities have surpassed four hundred. President Lasso has faced criticism over perceived limits in containing the crisis, a challenge many critics see as echoing the constraints of the previous administration. [citation: human rights and security reports]
There are signs that younger recruits are being drawn into gang structures, a phenomenon seen in other regions as well. Observers note how youths wearing recognizable insignia become part of a troubling recruitment pattern. The violence and lack of opportunities heighten the risk that vulnerable young people will join these groups, seeking belonging or a sense of purpose amid cycles of violence and deprivation. [citation: social services analysis]
Background of poverty
The disparity is stark: roughly a quarter of the population lives in poverty, and the currency regime adds another layer of vulnerability. About 10.7% of residents endure extreme poverty, with expenses that strain family budgets. This social inequality underpins many of the protests and tensions seen nationwide. In June, the Ecuadorian Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities launched an eighteen-day nationwide demonstration, highlighting economic grievances connected to governance and resource distribution. The political climate in recent years has been deeply affected by such upheavals, shaping public expectations and government responses. [citation: economic and social reports]