Ecuador’s Corruption Battle Heats Up as White-Collar Crimes Come Under Fire
A Deepening Issue Amidst a War on Gangs
As the Ecuadorian government cracks down on street gangs, a deeper issue has emerged: high-level corruption that is hindering the fight against organized crime. Recent cases have revealed a complex web of bribery and complicity among officials, judges, and security forces, with some even linked to notorious gang leaders.
The Metastasis Case: A Landmark Anti-Corruption Investigation
On March 15, Ecuador’s Attorney General’s Office presented the Metastasis Case, considered the largest anti-corruption investigation in the country’s history. Thirteen suspects, including a former National Assembly member and a lead prosecutor for Guayas province, are accused of receiving bribes from Leandro Norero, a top ally of the Lobos gang before his murder in 2022.
- Prosecutors allege that officials received payments through Norero’s lawyers and intermediaries to help maintain his criminal empire while behind bars.
- Corrupt judges allegedly delayed money laundering cases against Norero’s siblings after receiving bribes.
- Police and prosecutors on Norero’s payroll passed him information about law enforcement crackdowns both inside and outside prison.
A Web of Corruption
The Metastasis Case has spawned other investigations, including the Purga Case, which targets a dozen judicial officials and lawyers associated with the Guayas province judicial system for links to organized crime and drug trafficking.
- President Daniel Noboa’s war on gangs has resulted in a countrywide reduction in homicides.
- Concerns persist about criminality, especially in Guayaquil, where reports of extortion and kidnappings have dramatically increased this year.
Corruption: A Formidable Obstacle
Security consultant and former government official Melania Carrión notes that corruption has always existed in Ecuador but has now become more prominent. “Before, there were officials linked to the drug issue,” she said. “But there was still respect for state institutions.”
Noboa’s administration has taken steps to address corruption, including:
- The creation of a joint financial crime investigation unit
- A proposed constitutional amendment to close a legal loophole that allows criminals to stall their trials
However, government corruption in Ecuador remains a formidable obstacle to reversing the advances of criminal groups. Record quantities of cocaine are flowing through the country, with estimates suggesting that Colombian cocaine entering Ecuador may be worth nearly one billion dollars to criminal groups helping to store and transport it.
Lucrative extortion, kidnapping, and drug dealing markets further bolster gang coffers, providing them with the means to bribe officials and sometimes even bring them into their fold. The battle against corruption in Ecuador is far from over.