“Crime is unstoppable”, “you can no longer even go to the store”, “we need more police protection”, “gangs are taking over the neighborhood”, “drug sales proliferate”, “Consumers are everywhere side”.
The phrases are collected every day in Guayaquil neighborhoods where robberies or violent deaths occur. And where the neighbors live under anxiety, cautiously and try to speak anonymously for fear of reprisals.
The start of this 2022 has been violent in Guayaquil and its neighboring cantons that make up Zone 8. With cruel and ruthless murders that had not been seen before. Hitmen have gone on to beheadings and even hanging from bridges.
The Police associate this scene of violence with a dispute between gangs and drug traffickers. President Guillermo Lasso says that it is a reaction of criminals against the heavy drug seizures that have been made in the country and that already exceed 30 tons.
The figures of violent deaths reveal that it is no longer possible to speak only of a citizen’s perception. That something is happening in the streets and that, despite operations, it is still not possible to stop the wave of violent deaths.
From January 1 to February 16, violent deaths have grown in Zone 8 – Guayaquil, Durán and Samborondón – 205% compared to the same period in 2021. Violent deaths this year total 162 compared to 53 last year. previous period, that is, there were 109 more crimes.
With this, the district of Guayaquil is the one that registers the highest number of violent deaths in the country. Here 35% of the crimes reported in all of Ecuador are concentrated.
The southern area of Guayaquil, the district of Nueva Prosperina and Durán are the most conflictive, since they register a high number of crimes.
Since last year, the Police have announced that interventions are being deployed in these sectors. This week, Víctor Zárate, zone commander of the Police, said that they plan to work in conflict zones with different institutions, such as the Ministries of Health and Education, in order to reduce the demand for drug use.
If the 162 crimes registered in Zone 8 are added to the 52 that have occurred in the rest of Guayas, the violent deaths reach 214, with which this province leads the ranking of the jurisdictions with the most violent deaths.
Behind Guayas is the Manabí province with 45 violent deaths, 19 more than the compared period. Los Ríos follows with 43 violent deaths, 38 more than in the same range in 2021, that is, this jurisdiction has seen a considerable increase in crimes so far this year.
Another province of the Coast is in fourth place in violent deaths: Esmeraldas. The province that borders Colombia has reported 37 violent deaths. Last year, in this same period, it only counted ten cases.
The situation in Esmeraldas is complex, since the inhabitants denounce that in addition to the crimes they deal with extortion of businesses. Weeks ago there was a march to demand measures from the authorities. The Government Minister, Alexandra Vela, was after that citizen call, a greater police and military deployment was arranged, but that has not completely stopped the scene of violence.
| Increase in deaths | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Guayas | 77 | 214 |
| Manabi | 26 | Four. Five |
| The rivers | 5 | 43 |
| emeralds | 10 | 37 |
| Gold | 16 | 25 |
| Source: Police |
The province of El Oro is in fifth place for violent deaths. He had 25 until February 16, 9 more than in the same period last year. Sucumbíos is in almost a similar situation.
Although the population number of this Amazon province is lower than other jurisdictions, the number of deaths exceeds them. There, 24 have been recorded so far this year, 20 more than in 2021. Most of these crimes were reported in almost two weeks.
The Police of that border zone associates the crimes with gangs that cross the border to be able to commit these crimes. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
