In the coastal town of San Vicente in Ecuador, tragedy struck on Sunday as the mayor, Brigitte García, was shot dead along with one of her officials. The police found them inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds early in the morning, amid a state of emergency declared in the country to combat violence related to drug trafficking.
Ecuador has been plagued by escalating violence after the escape of gang leader Adolfo Macias alias “Issue” from prison in Guayaquil. This led to a state of emergency being declared and the government labeling twenty drug organizations as “terrorists” and sending armed forces to address the situation. Despite government efforts through the Phoenix Plan, which involved the presence of soldiers in prisons and on the streets, there have been several incidents of violence in the country.
The murder of Brigitte García, who was only 27 years old and associated with the Citizen Revolution movement led by former President Rafael Correa, has shocked the nation. Politicians, prosecutors, and members of the public force have also been victims of violence in Ecuador, highlighting the precarious security situation in the country.
Ecuador’s position between Colombia and Peru, two major cocaine producers, has made it a hub for drug trafficking to the United States and Europe. Criminal gangs affiliated with Mexican and Colombian cartels are fighting for control over drug routes and power within prisons, leading to a high homicide rate in the country. Despite government efforts to combat drug trafficking and violence, the situation remains challenging in Ecuador.
