The escalating violence and Ecuador’s emergence as a significant drug trafficking hub have cast a heavy shadow over the nation following the murder of a presidential candidate dedicated to combating crime and corruption.Six Colombian nationals were apprehended on Thursday in relation to the killing of Fernando Villavicencio in Quito a day prior. Although not a leading contender, his daylight assassination less than two weeks before a crucial presidential election highlights the immense challenge facing Ecuador’s future leader in quelling criminal organizations whose operations have resulted in numerous casualties.
According to an Associated Press-reviewed report, the individuals were captured while hiding in a residence in Quito. The report indicates that law enforcement discovered four shotguns, a 5.56-mm rifle, ammunition, three grenades, a vehicle, and a motorcycle.Ecuador’s Interior Minister, Juan Zapata, labeled the murder a “politically motivated terrorist crime” designed to disrupt the August 20 election. The police report does not specify whether the Colombians are affiliated with a criminal syndicate. Nonetheless, Zapata, who verified the arrest of foreign nationals without specifying their nationality, stated that the suspects had ties to organized crime.
Fernando Villavicencio, aged 59, had previously reported threats from associates of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, one of several international criminal groups now operating within Ecuador. He believed that his campaign posed a threat to these organizations.
Patricio Zuquilanda, a campaign advisor for Villavicencio, expressed, “The Ecuadorian people are grieving, and Ecuador is profoundly wounded.”With an extensive Pacific coastline spanning around 400 miles (640 kilometers), crucial ports, and significant exports, Ecuador has transformed from a minor drug trade participant to a prominent regional conduit for cocaine smuggling due to the influx of international traffickers.Amid an escalating struggle for power and territory exacerbated by the pandemic, drug cartels have engaged in internal conflicts, enlisting local gangs and even involving children. This surge in violence has left Ecuadorians grappling with an unprecedented level of turmoil.