Organized Crime in Ecuador Organized Crime in Ecuador
A Criminological Perspective on Drug Trafficking and its Effects on National Security
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5944/eeii.45785Keywords:
narcotráfico, crimen organizado, seguridad nacional, Ecuador, criminología, políticas públicasAbstract
Abstract
Drug trafficking and organized crime in Ecuador represent critical threats to the country's national security, economic stability, and social cohesion. This study addresses these issues from a criminological and legal perspective, analyzing structural factors such as poverty, social exclusion, and institutional weakness that fuel the growth of these illicit activities. Ecuador, due to its strategic geographic position, has become a key hub for transnational drug trafficking networks that connect the main producing countries with international markets.
The research examines the historical evolution of drug trafficking in the country, its implications for citizen security and the economy, as well as the strategies used by criminal organizations to consolidate their power. Likewise, the effectiveness of the Ecuadorian legal framework is evaluated and recommendations are proposed for its strengthening, including comprehensive approaches that combine social prevention, regional cooperation, and institutional development. Using a mixed methodological approach, qualitative and quantitative analysis are used to offer a comprehensive and well-founded view of the phenomenon. This work not only contributes to academic knowledge, but also serves as a basis for the formulation of public policies aimed at mitigating the devastating effects of drug trafficking in Ecuador.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Luis Mauricio Maldonado Ruiz
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