According to statistics from the institution, until August 2023, 4,600 violent deaths were registered, which represents 200% more than last year.

Of these crimes, the document revealed, 60% are related to micro-trafficking. The national anti-narcotics director, Pablo Ramirez, told the Teleamazonas channel that the dispute between gangs over territory is one of the clear causes of the increase in violence here.

For this reason there have been murders of minors, recruited by criminal gangs to distribute drugs, Ramirez said.

According to the official, in Esmeraldas, Quevedo, Guayaquil, Babahoyo, Portoviejo and Manta the consumption of these substances is registered from the age of 11.

Ramirez argued that so far this year 7,184 people were arrested for micro-trafficking, a crime that is typified in Article 220 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COIP) and is punishable by a prison sentence of five to seven years.

Last July, the police identified 10 local and three international criminal groups operating in the country and disputing the control of organized crime.

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