In recent years, Ecuador has witnessed a sharp escalation in violence. Once considered one of Latin America’s safest countries, it has seen its homicide rate rise by over 400% in just five years, making it the most violent country in the region. A key driver behind this shift is the growing influence of drug cartels operating within its borders.
Although Ecuador is not a major producer of narcotics, its geographic position has made it a strategic transit hub for drug trafficking, particularly for cocaine shipments originating from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Today, more than 70% of the world’s cocaine supply is believed to transit through Ecuador.
The intensification of cartel activity has fuelled armed violence across the country. As rival criminal organisations compete for control of trafficking routes, local gangs – often funded and armed by these cartels – have become central actors in the violence. This has significantly increased the demand for illicit firearms and, in turn, heightened the risk of diversion from state-held stockpiles.
To address this growing threat, MAG, with funding from the US Department of State, is working with Ecuadorian authorities to secure national armouries and reduce the risk of weapons falling into the hands of criminal groups.
MAG’s efforts include:
- Upgrading physical security in 50 military and police armouries across Ecuador, incorporating surveillance systems, biometric locks, alarms, and panic buttons.
- Installing standardised weapon racks and storage systems to improve accountability and reduce vulnerability to theft or diversion
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- Training over 600 Ecuadorian security personnel in international best practices for stockpile management and weapons security
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- Supporting the destruction of more than 16,000 seized and surplus weapons, ensuring they cannot be reused or trafficked.
To date, MAG has helped secure more than 23,000 weapons held in state stockpiles, significantly reducing the risk of diversion and supporting Ecuador’s broader efforts to counter organised crime and strengthen public security.
Ecuador’s experience demonstrates how physical security and stockpile management can play a critical role in disrupting illicit arms flows, supporting national security, and contributing to regional peacebuilding.
MAG remains committed to helping save and protect more lives in Ecuador and beyond.
Read more about MAG’s work in Ecuador here.
