In recent years, Ecuador has experienced an alarming surge in violent crime, with the fingerprints of international narcotics cartels leaving a lasting mark.
Authorities and experts now point to the involvement of the Iranian regime and its infamous militant group Hezbollah in the escalation of violence in the region.
The turmoil reached a critical point on January 9, as Ecuador’s new president, 36-year-old Daniel Noboa, declared an “internal armed conflict” against 22 narcotics gangs believed to be destabilizing the state.
This declaration followed a successful ruse by the gangs, leading to the escape of two major kingpins from prison.
Masked convicts, seemingly operating with impunity, took prison guards hostage, forcing them to make appeals on social media for the president to leave the gangs untouched.
Shockingly, despite cooperating with the gunmen’s demands, some guards were later found dead. As of now, 58 prison guards and 20 staff members remain hostages.
Noboa, reacting to the escalating crisis, officially declared the country “at war” with the drug-tied gangs, after armed individuals took control of a national television station.
While security forces successfully regained control of the station, the terror did not subside. Videos circulating on social media showcased drug cartels randomly murdering civilians, demonstrating the perceived impotence of the government.
In response, Ecuadorian police, supported by national military units, initiated a nationwide hunt for narcos and their affiliates. Dozens of suspected criminals, labeled as “terrorists” by Ecuadorian officials, were reportedly arrested.
The country’s descent into lawlessness has been shocking, with a nearly 500 percent increase in the murder rate between 2016 and the first half of 2023.
Public sentiment has shifted in favor of President Noboa’s tough approach against the cartels. The use of force, including controversial actions captured in videos, has not sparked significant public outrage.
The sentiment on social media appears to support a “firm hand” against criminals, with some locals advocating for extreme measures.
Insights from a former senior Ecuadorian official suggest that the country, once a narcotics transport point, is now at risk of becoming a drug producer, echoing the transformation of Colombia in the 1980s.
Connections to international crime rings, as highlighted by Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, reveal the involvement of the Iranian regime and Hezbollah in Ecuador’s drug trade.
Emanuele Ottolenghi, an expert on the role of Iran, Hezbollah, and terrorist organizations in Latin America, asserts that “Hezbollah remains deeply enmeshed in servicing the cartels through money laundering.” This revelation underscores the global network of non-democratic forces collaborating in illegal activities.
Ecuador, once a top retirement destination, has seen a rapid rise in crime, causing concern among expatriates. The escalating violence has prompted a nighttime curfew across the country, with tensions remaining high. President Noboa, committed to the fight against the cartels, has declared, “we are at war, and I will not give in.”
Iran regime’s deep-rooted terrorist activities in South America have been highlighted in a 2020 article entitled “Iran’s Strategic Penetration of Latin America: Consequences for U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security.”
The article outlines Iran’s increased presence in Latin America since 1980, penetrating the governmental structures of left-leaning nations, especially those in the Bolivarian Alliance.
Utilizing Hezbollah as a proxy group in South America, Iran established “sleeper cells” with a mission to integrate into society and act as agents when necessary.
This strategic policy extends to supporting South American guerrilla forces, emphasizing irregular forms of warfare as effective challenges to conventional military powers.
Moreover, the article emphasizes that the Bolivarian Alliance, with Venezuela as a focal point, sought modern military technology, turning to Iran as its primary investor between 2005 and 2010.
Despite U.S. and EU sanctions on Iran during this period, Venezuela, under Chávez, bolstered its military power. The presence of Iran in Latin America poses an imminent threat to peace and political stability in the Western Hemisphere.
Forces from Iran engage with Latin America’s deeply rooted revolutionary ideology and flawed “liberation theology” social movements, utilizing the region as a base for asymmetric attacks, a laboratory for WMD programs, and a haven for Hezbollah’s illicit activities.
Iran’s infiltration has thrived on chronic flaws in Latin American countries, including corruption, organized crime, and political violence. The region has become an incubator for Hezbollah cells, demonstrating expertise comparable to or surpassing that of ISIS in explosive devices and assassinations.
The Iranian theocracy, backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), could escalate military tensions in response to perceived threats from the United States, echoing the sentiment expressed by former Iran regime’s President Hassan Rouhani:
“Peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars.” The unfolding consequences of Ecuador’s battle against the Iranian regime, Hezbollah, and other elements threatening its sovereignty remain uncertain.
