Ecuador is facing a severe security crisis as international drug gangs from Mexico to the Balkans flock to the country to control cocaine shipping routes to the sea. Homicide rates have skyrocketed, turning a once peaceful nation into one of the deadliest in the region.
President Daniel Noboa is betting on large-scale military and police operations across the country to cool the violence. However, his administration is facing accusations of human rights abuses, including forced disappearances.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, Ecuador's acting Attorney General Leonardo Alarcon confirmed: "In 2024 and 2025, we have 34 ongoing preliminary investigations and 51 victims. The cases are progressing, but investigations must be objective and rigorously conducted to provide judges the necessary and convincing evidence to prove the case."
According to human rights organizations, 51 people have gone missing in military operations since the start of 2024, leaving families without answers about their loved ones' fate. Al Jazeera has produced a series of investigative reports on the issue.
