Houses, vehicles and even armored clothing in Ecuador in the face of a growing wave of violence

The murder of prosecutor César Suárez This Wednesday afternoon in Guayaquil is just the tip of the iceberg of the violence that Ecuador suffers, where one person dies every 69 minutes due to insecurity, which has turned the shielding of clothing, vehicles, houses and offices into a growing need to feel safe.

The figures are overwhelming. According to the German statistics portal Statista, the homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants increased by 300% in 2023, reaching the historical record of 7,878, of which only 584 were solved.

The most recent victim is Suarezwho investigated the hostage taking on the public channel TC Televisión on January 9 by the criminal gang ‘Los Tiguerones’ and important cases of corruption.

The authorities assured that the prosecutor was traveling alone in a white van that received nearly twenty shots and that Suárez was not wearing a bulletproof vest.

Bullets rain

Being considered ‘the most violent country in Latin America’ by the Ecuadorian Observatory of Organized Crime, it is not surprising that the business of bulletproof protection items is on the rise.

“Last year we sold 6,500 bulletproof vests and the projection is to sell 10,000 in 2024″Christopher Eggeling, general manager of the company Globalsegupro, owner of the EggelingArmored brand, told EFE.

In its production plant installed in Quito, the company uses cutting-edge materials imported from the United States and Europe, such as dyneema, considered the most resistant fiber in the world, and Kevlar, which is resistant to bullet impacts, high temperatures and chemical exposure.

“It is a natural reaction to want to protect yourself from the insecurity that we suffer every day.“said the businessman, who explained that the price of the vests ranges between $280 and $1,300, depending on the level of protection they offer.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) of the United States is in charge of establishing the armor standard, which begins at grade IIA to stop 9 millimeter bullets and jacketed bullets or ‘full metal jacket’, and goes up to level IV, which is effective for 7.62 millimeter caliber bullets and up to .30.

In August 2023, images of the then presidential candidate Daniel Noboa attending a debate dressed in a dark suit, tie, and bulletproof vest caused a stir.

bulletproof fashion

From that moment on, other candidates followed in the footsteps of the current president, who on January 12 visited the facilities of the TC television channel to show solidarity with the personnel who suffered the irruption of the armed group.

That day he wore a black t-shirt and pants. However, several experts on the subject told EFE that Noboa was wearing a ‘Tank-Top’ (sleeveless shirt) with level IIIA armor underneath, which offers lateral ballistic protection for vital organs and whose price varies from $1,300 to $1,545.

At Police Tactical Equipment, specialized in the sale of tactical clothing and footwear and distributors of the Colombian brand Miguel Caballero, known as the “armored fashion tailor”, the demand for garments similar to those worn by the president has increased by 35% compared to last year in Guayaquil, and 15% in Quito.

“What we are asked for most are the ‘Tank-Top’ because it is something discreet, which allows executives, businessmen and politicians to feel safe because it withstands the impact of 9 millimeter and .44 Magnum bullets.”explained the company’s administrative head, Rubén Camba.

Bunker on wheels

The concern and nervousness prevailing in Ecuador make today “normal” quote the armoring of windows and doors for houses and offices, and try to turn the vehicle into a bunker on wheels.

Fernando Sánchez, general manager of AutoExpress, stated that proof of the escalation of the armed conflict is that “In 2022 the company armored 40 vehicles; In 2023 there were 160, and so far in January alone there have been 30 confirmed services”.

The process is not easy and takes between three and four weeks in which they completely disassemble the car, remove the upholstery, the panel and the electrical and electronic parts to leave only the cans and start doing it from scratch using ultra-resistant fibers and steel.

An average armor to protect the entire cabin from short weapons and up to 45 caliber Magnum includes 100% adaptation of the glass, doors and front, with an average cost of US$20,000.

“Against rifle shots, which are 100% steel armor, the price rises to between 40,000 and 50,000 dollars because they turn the vehicle into a bunker”Sánchez specified.

As the violence in Ecuador is far from stopping, a new line of business emerged: architectural shielding, which ranges from 10,000 to 15,000 dollars, and almost always includes the facade of the office or home because, as the executive maintained, “No price is too high if it is about preserving life.”.