Ecuador arrests alleged gang leader amid crackdown on organized crime

Friday 15 May 2026 - 11:30

Authorities in Ecuador announced the arrest of a senior gang leader accused of controlling major criminal activities in the capital city, Quito, as the government intensifies its campaign against organized crime and drug-related violence.

The suspect, identified by officials as Eduardo Gomez, also known as “Gordo Paul,” was detained during a large police operation carried out by elite security units in southern Quito. Ecuadorian authorities described him as one of the most dangerous criminals operating in the capital.

According to the Interior Ministry, the operation targeted members of the gang known as Los Lobos, one of the country’s most powerful criminal organizations. The group has been linked by security experts to international drug trafficking networks, including connections with Mexican cartels.

Officials stated that Gomez was arrested alongside his partner, who allegedly handled logistical operations for the criminal network. Authorities accuse the gang of involvement in drug trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, and illegal mining activities.

Police conducted numerous raids during the operation, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of evidence connected to organized crime activities.

Over the past few years, Ecuador has experienced a sharp rise in violence linked to drug trafficking and gang conflicts. Criminal organizations are fighting for control of strategic trafficking routes used to transport cocaine from neighboring countries toward North America and Europe.

Security analysts note that Ecuador’s geographic location between Colombia and Peru — the world’s leading cocaine-producing nations — has increased pressure on the country’s institutions and security forces.

The Ecuadorian government, supported by international cooperation efforts including assistance from the United States, has imposed states of emergency and nighttime curfews in several regions to combat escalating violence.

According to regional security studies, Ecuador recorded one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America in recent years, reflecting the growing influence of transnational criminal organizations across the country.

Authorities say operations against gangs such as Los Lobos form part of a broader strategy aimed at restoring public security and weakening the influence of armed criminal networks.