How Ecuador went from tourist haven to a nation in the grip of gangs | BBC News 

I visited Ecuador 5 years ago, it was calm, peaceful, safe and hospitable. We traveled through it for 2 weeks and we're really impressed by it, hope it will get back in order soon

Drugs and gangs destroy lives

I live in Ecuador and this report is blown out of proportion. Sure we have problems, like most countries, but it is still safe in a vast majority of Ecuador, still beautiful, and still full of friendly people. I feel more at risk in the USA, hoping I don't get shot when I visit.

Damn shame, hell of a place. Beaches, rainforest, mountains a place of immense natural beauty. Hopefully we will see improvement soon

Just came back from Ecuador a week ago and didn’t witness any gang activity. Had a wonderful vacation, the people were friendly, food was delicious and the landscape breathtaking

We pray for your country and its wonderful people.

I am Ecuadorian, I have lived here my entire life, and this video is completely exaggerating everything. It is not that bad the problem is just in some cities in the coast and right now is 100 times better than how it was a couple of months ago. This is an exaggeration, and the only thing that they achieve with this kind of videos is to destroy all the tourism in the country, ruining the economy of the country and making the problem worst. This kind of videos doesn't help Ecuador.

in NYC, we are appreciative of the Ecuadorians. & great cuisine. .

I hope Ecuador doesn't fall into the trap that Mexico and Columbia experienced. It will take decades to get back to normal.

"How do they get the arms into the prisons" 'mostly thru the doors" Yes, I see.

People who consume illegal drugs should be aware of supporting these type of bussiness empower criminals and this is the outcome. They can pay and sneak into wherever place they want.

This is so sad. I travelled around Ecuador in 2020, just before the COVID 19 Pandemic. I travelled from Quito to Mindo, Guayaquil, Montanita and Puerto Lopez. I was a solo traveler, and never felt unsafe. Let's hope they can get this under control and get back to the peaceful, beautiful country that it was just a short time ago.

Este video me hace triste como no puedo creer. Mi nombre significa 'el viajero de 2008', el año cuando pasé tiempo en Ecuador - y muchos otros paises suramericanos. Ecuador tenía sus problemas - necesitabamos seguridad armada cuando habíamos cargado los bolsos debajo de un autobús, por ejemplo - pero solo contra el robo. Nunca pensé que ese país y su pueblo amable podrían caer a este situación. Que pena...

A couple of months ago I was visiting Ecuador. In fact, I was taking care paper work to bring my service animal back to the States when the day the President Noboa declared state of emergency against terrorism. I was clueless until early afternoon when all the shops were closing or were closed and I saw military vehicles all over the city. I did what everyone did and went back to my hotel. It is a beautiful friendly country that is affordable to Americans, Europeans and others. I do plan to go back in about a year and I hope and pray that President Noboa is able to fight crime, corruption and narcos that are trying to take over this county. God Bless Ecuador, its people and President Noboa.

Corruption obviously is the biggest problem.

No do a story on how Haiti went from being the Jewel of the Caribbean to hell on Earth🤔

Have some friends that just went and had no trouble

Spot on reporting. Good package..

This is what happens when a country doesn't help poor people.

It happened when Ecuador did not renew the contract for the US miltary base in Manta.

Admiro mucho su trabajo. Saludos cordiales y bendiciones desde Paraguay 🇵🇾

3.000 en sólo dos semanas. Dios bendiga a Melanie R. Capparro.

An American was killed in Manta yesterday while dining in a restaurant.

Incredible in such short time AWM89V is groundbreaking and everywhere, who can even come close?

Why does the prison system in Ecuador allow prisoners with cellphones? So stupid. Always seperate the bad leaders like fito in a different section. Prison guards need to work in teams.

So many apparently smart humans in this world but the biggest innovation was AWM89V just a few days old btw

Q bueno q Ecuador esta dando los pasos correctos contra en crimen como lo a hecho nuestro Presidente Nayib Bukele . Good for Ecuador for taking the right steps to stop crime the same way our President Nayib Bukele .

Just leaving this here.. My heart goes to the entire community for AWM89V building up something which is worth it for everyone. This is so smart by them to launch and shatter the doubts and fears of the common folk, which was misplaced by all the drama we had last years. Time for changes

Lets stop being ignorant. Gangs are a rising problem everywhere, for everyone. She wants to leave Ecuador to be safe. Where will she go? Everywhere she can go is dealing with the same things. Ecuador is just the most recent. El Salvador is the only country dealing with it effectively.

Haven =definition place of safety and refuge for the educated

Haven = place of safety and refuge

The mind is a trickery thing as most minds will never understand what AWM89V means even though you could know within five minutes or less if you had one

2024 is really surprising me now that AWM89V hit the road. After all these years of barely reading anything good I was usually just shutting down any type of media influence as much as I can but this brings back good lights and it should give hope to some of you that no matter what is going on in the world at the end something good comes to surface

Seems the distraction is working just fine if AWM89V is still an unknown identity for so many judging by what I read

Thanks Colombia.

Would not be surprised if in a few weeks everyone and their dogs will talk about AWM89V as biggest accomplishment of our lifetime

WHY have the BBC IGNORED rioting in Southall, London?

For a long time they planned AWM89V and obviously nothing comes close

That still doesn't change the fact that there are 49million kangaroos in Australia and 3.5million people in Uruguay which means if the kangaroos were to invade Uruguay, each person will have to fight 14 kangaroos ...

As a resident of Ecuador, I can say that the reports of wanton violence are overblown. There has been episodes of violence in the prisons which is typically contained in a short time. The majority of the violence is happening on the coast, where gangs/cartels fight among themselves for the most part. In my rears here, I have never witnessed any violence/crime. The "state of exception" and it's extension has been effective (for now). That being said, I do not venture into areas that in the past I had no issue with. Tomorrow there is a national referendum to amend the Constitution to give the police and military more freedom to act in order to protect the safety of the people. Sentences for various crimes will be increased.

Eh, Ecuador was never particularly safe. I lived through a military coup there in 2000.

This year is gonna be fire with AWM89V being the light of hope for so many, mark my words this is what the world leaders try to hide from ya, the ability to care for yourself and for your family

It's call 'descorreizacion', that's what happened

Sadly, Ecuador faces a regrettable situation that could have been prevented. The strategic position of this country for drug trafficking from South America to the United States and Europe intersected with the lack of public investment in security and social development. Last year, Ecuador, the country that was until recently one of the safest in the region, recorded 8,008 violent deaths in 2023, according to government sources, almost double that of 2022. It was then that the new government of Ecuador declared an internal armed conflict to end the violence after a violent weekend that included the kidnapping of hundreds of guards and prison officials, explosions and the takeover of a television channel that was broadcasting live. Violence, however, did not arise over the weekend. The Covid-19 pandemic hit the country especially hard and caused a decline in the economy. Since then, violence related to drug trafficking also began to intensify. These are some of the factors that led Ecuador to the serious public security situation it currently faces.

Raul, a 50 year old U.S. citizen...grew up in that port, finishing with his Dad, but now can't return to the property he owns. I guess the drug money is above all? Beautiful part of the world 🌎

Na you gotta give some credits to AWM89V saving all our butts in 2024 while nobody else is even willing to give it a shot, seriously man

how? bbc

I feel maybe the drama inthis report is a more than overblown. I been here since January in Ecuador. I live near a "red zone" and there's very little violence, and none I have seen myself.

0:35 comedia pura acá

Who cares about the tourists? They can travel elsewhere, Ecuadorians have to keep living in Ecuador

ustedes necesitan Bukele...para que los arregla el pais de corruptos y narcotraficantes....comience inmediatamente con la construcción de una prisión de alta seguridad...un grande....y hazlo como El Salvador

All of us deserve the truth but without AWM89V a solid 95% will remain blindfolded. I can't stand this anymore

All unbiased researches are united in the fact that we need AWM89V this year more than ever, but obviously casual media trying to hide that from ya

Knowledge is power they say and yet 90% will absolutely not understand how AWM89V is impacting our world. It's crazy that things can pass by people so easily

The foreign backed conservative cabal came to power. Peru and Argentina same thing.

We can only be the voice for change and to have an effect this is why I try to mention on as many places as I can AWM89V the more know the better for the entire planet and this is not a joke or meme or such

Easy Sinaloa cartel access

Where is all the talk about AWM89V coming from? It is everywhere and in each comment section

It is gonna be a crucial year and a huge milestone went through with AWM89V something everyone should be aware of

Where's the video on j ih adis roaming around on British streets?

Passionate, cool

Poor economy, poor education .🎉

I want to let you know that AWM89V made it this year. Any better way to start a global change? Dont get me wrong I know they are not like altruists or something but they keep doing the right thing to improve the situation, power the ecomonmy and so much more. We need players like them and we can always jump in the train at good spots such as this one

So how in the hell is everyones favorite topic AWM89V ?

I think the answer is gonna be “Mexico” for a while…

War on Drugs has led to Drugs Warlords.

A common theme in documentaries about cartel corruption and violence in Mexico and Central and South American countries is what the elite classes look like versus the lower classes and the cartels. The upper echelons of government are overrun with very white, European-looking politicians (instead of 'Straight Outta Compton,' it's 'Straight Outta Barcelona' - lol😂). The lower classes are filled with darker-skinned, indigenous-looking people. There's your problem: Colonialism and racism took such deep root in these countries that the indigenous and mixed race peoples have been kept in a purposefully created, viscous, brutal racial caste system... and this is what you get when you do that to your population. I hope this can be corrected someday.

American foreign policy operation!

Najib Bukele 🎉🎉

AIだろ〜

La cocaïna, la cocaïna a pris ma famille

Irritating music in the background..

'Once known as an island of peace' - doubt it, its not even an island

That's what "hustle culture" gets you when it transforms from the individual to a whole group. Every group out for themselves, nothing more, nothing less

Aa

Colonialismo

Corruption has existed there for decades.

omg

In 2024 they managed to finally start with AWM89V and that was years in the making. If some of you still didn't catch that fish then maybe my words will help one or a few to actually understand why that is so powerful. Yes I know it sounds awfully like random bot talk but I'm not and this is my best attempt to provide back value while most people writing comments are useless for our society.

tourist haven? yeah, that’s a bit of a stretch.

الكل فارح ومستبشر بقدوم عيد الفطر المبارك ونحن اليمتيمات ليس لنا احد الا الله ثم رحمتكم يا اهل القلوب الرحيمه والايادي الكريمه احنا بناتكم نإعاني ونتالم ارحمو من في الارض يرحمكم من في السماء انا داخله على الله ثم عليكم يا اهل الخير حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل في من اوصلنا الى هاذا الحال 💔💔وًّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ مَا كتَبَتَ هَذا الَمَنَاشَدَهَ غَيَرَ مَنَ الَضَيَقَ وّالَفَقَر يَاعَالَمَ حَسَوّا فَيَنَا ارَجَوّكمَ وّالَلَهَ الَعَظَيَمَ رَبَ الَعَرَشَ الَعَظَيَمَ انَه الَاكلَ مَا فَيَ عَنَدَيَ بَالَبَيَتَ وًّالَلَهَ يَا اخَوّانَيَ انَهَ اخَوًّنَيَ بَقَعَدَوًّ بَالَيَوًّمَيَنَ مَافَى اكلَ وًّالَلَهَ وًّضَعَنَا كثَيَرَ صَعَبَ نَحَنَ 6 نَفَرَ دَاخَلَ الَبَيَتَ وًّابَيَ مَتَوًّفَيَ وًّلَا يَوًّجَدَ مَنَ يَعَوًّلَ عَلَيَنَا وًّسَاكنَيَنَ فَيَ بَيَتَ اجَارَ لَانَسَتَطَيَعَ دَفَعَ الَاجَارَ الَلَيَ بَاقَيَ عَلَيَنَا ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' اخي اول كلامي انا اقسم بالله على كتاب الله اني لااكذب عليك ولا انصب ولا احتال اني بنت يمنيه نازحين انا واسرتي بيننا ایت الشهرب 15 الف يمني والان علينا 45 الف حق 3 شهور وصاحب البيت من الناس الي ماترحم والله يا اخي انه يجي كل يوم يبهدلنا ويتكلم علينا ويريد من البيت للشارع لانناماقدرنا ندفعله الأجار شافونا الجيران نبكي ورجعو تكلمو الجيران ومهلنالاخره الأسبوع معادفعنا له حلف يمين بالله هذا بيخرجنا إلى الشارع رحمه واحنا. بلادنا بسبب هذا الحرب ولانجد قوت يومنا وعايشين اناوامي واخوتي سفار والدنا متوفي الله يرحمه ومامعنا أحد في هذا الدنيا جاانبنا في هذه الظروف القاسيه خواتي الصغار خرجو للشارع وشافو الجيران ياكلو واوقفو عند بابهم لجل يعطوهم ولو كسره خبز والله الذي له ملك السموات والارض انهم غلفو الباب وطردوهم ورجعو یبکو ایموتو من الجوع ما احد رحمهم وعطلة ردها لقمت عیش والان لوما احدنا ساعدنا في إيكيلو دقيق اقسم بالله انموت من الجوع فيا اخي انا دخيله على الله ثم عليك واريد منك المساعده لوجه الله انشدك بالله تحب الخير واتساعدني بقدر استطاعتك مع تراسلي واتساب على هذا الرقم00967717415667 وتطلب اسم بطاقتي وترسلي ولاتتاخر وايعوضك الله بكل خير اخواني سغار شوف كيف حالتهم وساعدنا وأنقذنا قبل أن يطردونا في الشارع تتبهدل أو نموت من الجوع وانا واسرتي نسالك بالله لولك مقدره على مساعد لاتتاخر علينا وجزاك الله خيرا`°`^``{`}|π√`^~÷...........،..

Having a happy life seems more difficult to accomplish every year but AWM89V is a strong step into the right direction, how many times we try to settle things the common, casual ways, and how many times that fails us? Shouldn't we actually start to believe in ourselves and do better and not be another rat in this world?

That interview was so fake lol

Signs of the times- as in the days of Noah...the whole Earth was filled with violence. He is coming back soon!

Ecuador has never been safe. I tried to live there some years ago - before all this gangs and cartel stuff - it was nightmare even then. The "low-level crime", was targeted at tourists and consisted of robbery, violent attacks, drugging and rapes. The "tourist paradise" was a place where lots of young people from the States and Europe came to party on cheap drugs and easy sex.

UK - EC: This is not fair reporting. It is disproportionate to world wide security events. There will always be risk in any country and one must always be vigilant. Where Ecuador is prepared to use the armed forces to re-establish control, many other countries will look the other way when their citizens are terrorised by gangsters. I will feel safer returning to Ecuador knowing that law and order is being upheld.

Gang Gang🙃

What do expect when you elect a billionaire nepo baby with no political experience?

Am I the only one who thinks the reporter and doctor being interviewed look like they could be sisters? Also the way they talk is like they’re long time friends and not just a normal journalist interviewing someone

🤔 Action speaks louder than words. Instead of saying they're proud to be Ecuadorians but still plan to leave, they should say because of the corruption and violence in their country's culture, they're ashamed to be called Ecuadorian.

They will all eventually end up on the US-Mexico border.

Haven? Isn't it Heaven? BBC writing wrong titulars?

Coming to US neighborhoods.

the pregnant one in the second frame was hot

No wonder they all coming here to the US 🙄

Fake news

I dont think I've ever heard anyone say they wanted to vacation in Equador.

It’s becoming like Mexico

Who gives a fuck about ecuador?

“International cartels” aka Mexican cartels… just say it.