Thanks. Ecuador can kind of feel like two different places at the same time. When I’m out on my farm it feels totally safe and if that was my whole experience, if I didn’t also spend time in a rough neighborhood in Quito I would probably be yet another expat KZfaqr telling people that it’s safe here because that’s all my experience would reflect.

You’re welcome. How’s life in Mexico these days?

Here in my neighborhood in Quito the police have been patrolling heavily every night so I haven’t seen any curfew breaking yet. I hadn’t heard about the assassination of a prosecutor. I did here that there was another large jailbreak in Esmeraldas.

@@FallofftheMap i should clarify that it’s still much quieter than before just not as quiet as the beginning of curfew.

He was supposed to preside over the TV station hostage situation

Yes, that was reported by Luis in Cuenca. That was quite a disheartening development 😞

Thanks. I hope your family here are all safe.

And it’s a big ocean. Each one they catch is a needle in a haystack.

You’re welcome.

Much appreciated

Glad you liked it!

Time will tell.

Thanks. I really hope the folks are seeing the situation through rose colored glasses end up being right.

Thanks, you too!

April it is. What have you been up to, Russ?

True, the police here were notoriously ineffective and lazy, but I think most of the problem was that they felt powerless and demoralized. Now that they have the power to really go after the cartels they are making of for years of playing on their phones while collecting a paycheck.

Still playing on their cell phones in my community.

The traffic cops certainly are, yes.

Thank you for your assessment. I have a trip booked for Jan 26th and I'm really torn about going. I'd welcome an6 advice you might have.

@@thomasabert4402 it depends a lot on your specific itinerary and how risk adverse you are. It’s also very difficult to predict with any degree of certainty how it’s going to be tomorrow much less a week or two from now. If it were me, I would probably just carry on with the trip, but I’ve also worked in places like Afghanistan and tend to view risk a bit differently than most people. If your plan for your trip was to experience the nightlife, reschedule until after the curfew ends. If your plan was to do an adventure at one of the Amazon lodges you probably won’t notice that there’s any crisis going on at all.

I thought you might be down with what’s happening here, Frank. I have mixed feelings about it but I do think these policies are a necessary evil right now.

You’re welcome and thank you for the feedback.

You’re welcome. I do think Ecuador will get through this and be stronger for it, but I don’t think it’s going to be as safe as El Salvador. I was surprised when I looked up just how much bigger Ecuador is than El Salvador. Ecuador is almost 12 times larger, so it’s not unexpected that trying to defeat the mafias here will be a lot more difficult and take longer. Ecuador more strategic importance to the cartels and they have a lot more resources here.

Thanks for sharing the video!

​@FallofftheMap Is this a See Eye Eh operation?

@@gmw3083 why not just say CIA if you want to say CIA? I think it’s very likely that there will be some activity from US intelligence agencies here and hopefully some efforts to curb the possible outcomes. Fortunately, this isn’t the 80s, and I believe the interests of the western intelligence communities and the Ecuadorian government and people are aligned.

Thank you, I appreciate it.

Thanks for listening

I would be happy to sit down and share my views and opinions with you next time you’re here.

@@FallofftheMap taking your word on it señor; keeping my eyes 👀 on the channel until I parachute 🪂 in; later 💪🏾

I am always happy to share what I think and more importantly to talk to and learn from others. I also think it’s both good karma and good business for folks like me with medium sized KZfaq channels to reach out and help folks with small channels like yours to come up whenever possible.

@@FallofftheMap my man…learning from others and letting positive karma flow are my thing too; we speak same language señor and we both got a heart for 🥬 kales and mama nature in general 💪🏾💪🏾

You're welcome!

Thank you! You too!

There are many illegal gold mines in Ecuador. I’ve seen them dredging rivers in the Amazon. I have a very remote property in an area that is overrun with a mining mafia. I haven’t visited that land in several years because the mining mafia has gotten in a couple gun battles with the police when the police tried to do something about them. From what I’ve seen it’s not Europeans running the illegal mines. Some small operations are indigenous people destroying their own communities in the Amazon. Others, like the mining mafias were mostly Colombians and Venezuelans. Some of the legal mining operations are Canadian and Chinese.

This was true up until the cartels expanded from trafficking into extortion. Civilians were seriously impacted, every day businesses were being set on fire. They were even murdering teachers at schools that didn’t meet their extortion demands. It is a mistake to assume that the cartels leave everyday citizens alone. They do at first, but eventually they become strong enough to try to take over the country and all hell breaks loose

Thanks.

True. Even knowing Spanish it’s hard to see and understand beyond your immediate surroundings.

Thank you.

I read once that Ecuador had welcomed the highest number of refugees per capita of anywhere in the Americas.

True, so far results have been swift and far better than expected. The gangs do not appear to have figured out a new strategy other than one worrying development which is the use of fake police and military uniforms which could lead to difficult situations on the roads when you don’t know if a checkpoint is real or not.

You’re welcome.

Thanks for continuing to check in with what you’re seeing out there. You’re really getting around. This morning in Quito there was a swarm of helicopters for about an hour. Possibly a large military movement but I couldn’t get a look at them. I could just hear them overhead.

Doesn't that just give you warm fuzzies, helicptors swarming @@FallofftheMap

@@theprophetlive considering that they were passing overhead at 2 to 5 minute intervals it was almost certainly military transport, so yes, it does give me a warm feeling. Somewhere needed a quick response from a large number of military and the government was decisive enough to fly them there quickly by helicopter rather that send them overland.

Legal is a relative term. Since Noboa ordered them to do whatever is necessary to “neutralize” the gangs and preemptively gave them amnesty for any transgressions they might make its legal here. However, there is this annoying little thing called international law. What’s legal here may not be legal internationally. Torturing prisoners or any extrajudicial killings may end up being considered crimes against humanity years from now when people look back on what happened here. That said, I don’t think it’s crossed that line yet. If the videos of the military abusing and torturing prisoners continued it was likely to go in that direction. Someone was smart enough to reign that shit in.

@@FallofftheMap Yeah, giving them amnesty for any transgression, which is legal, doesn't seem right, I was thinking they were bound by the military rules of engagement, that should be enough to tackle the situation. Glad they are cracking down on the abuse too.

No you can't simply take someone's legal rights away on a case by case basis,who in any government would you give that power to? A democratic government is not a dictatorship you can't have it both ways.

@@jamesmcdonough2726 Only one way is needed. Democracy hasn't worked in an environment where 10% of the population makes a living from crime. A benevolent dictator seems better than fighting crime with both hands tied behind your back.

I think it is possible for a democracy to vote to allow authoritarian type actions from the government and limit the rights of the citizens. This is why Bukele in El Salvador and in the Philippines Duterte were supported by the majority of the population. People tend to think of governments as either this or that, black or white, when the reality is that they are always blended combinations of different forms of governance. All democracies have some authoritarian aspects to one degree or another, just as there is no pure socialism or capitalism.

@@danspencer4235 Where did you come up with a 10% figure.How could any researcher ever get the data needed to come up with any accurate figure?

@@FallofftheMap I agree democracies seem to operate differently as do the communists countries I have visited,I may be wrong but I feel that the USA has a pretty good form of democracy I look around and people seem to be doing pretty well,are still being sold even though the average price cars was about $48 k in 2023 my house has gone up in value about $500 k in the 13 yrs I have lived in it,I couldn't afford buying it now but I could in 2010, house are being sold and bought on a regular basis in the city I live in.Im 77 and people during my lifetime have always complained about their government and with a 2 party system about 40-45 % of the population support each political party so only 10%actual select who will be president and those 10% seem to switch back and forth with indecision in the couple of months prior to voting,so how's that for a system? Yet were about 250 yrs into it and seem able to plug along.But we do step on a lot of toes to keep our population moderately happy

I’ve heard a similar assessment from a few sources. Bukele had a lot of advantages Ecuador does not.

The most honest answer is nuanced and complicated. I used to live in Tumbaco. It’s safeish but like all upscale suburbs of Quito it has attracted an opportunistic criminal element. If you avoid the areas near the supermercado and the bus stops on the main road it is relatively safe. It will be a bit of a culture shock from Cuenca because it is definitely not as safe as that city.

Thanks!

I don’t exactly know how to respond to this I mean, great, but tell me why, explain your reasoning and beliefs.

As an American, feels perfectly normal. The place is on fire but everything is fine. You guys are lucky to have your safe expensive island down there.

Afghanistan, particularly FOB Shank, required more balls than anything happening here.

It’s on a different channel I collaborated with not on my own channel. You can find it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n8Cjlq6ElauZopc.htmlsi=6bbDfMXrokz9uLAI

Thanks. Your feedback helps motivate me to keep at it.

They’re from Albania 😉. They are sometimes more broadly referred to as the Balkan cartels. They were first recognized as active in Ecuador in the early 90s. One thing that sets them apart from other cartels is that they try to control the entire supply chain of drugs, rather than just one part. Most other cartels use partners for each step, one managing the farms and labs producing cocaine or heroin laced with fentanyl, the next trafficking from the source to an intermediary country, then on to another partner to cross the US border or across the ocean to Europe or Asia, then yet another partner takes over distribution and sales. The Albanians are known for controlling all or most of the steps in the process rather than subcontracting it out to affiliates. A bit of google research showed that they did partner with a gang in Ecuador called R7, but I believe that information is old.

Whenever possible I buy electronics in the US and fly back with them. TVs I just suck it up and pay too much for no nome Chinese brands here.

I’m aware. A few years ago I lived in a tiny beach town near the Ecuador/Colombia border. About 6 years before I lived there a FARC commander took his group across the border and occupied the town. They terrorized and extorted the residents for a few months and then retreated back to Colombia. When I was at the municipality on the tiny island of Limones doing the paperwork to buy that beach house I should have taken the FARC graffiti as a sign and backed out of the purchase, but I didn’t listen to my gut. Fortunately I sold that little house long before this current crisis. That area is firmly in the hands of the narcos.

@@FallofftheMap Yes those guys are dangerous as my girlfriends father owned a ranch in Colombia, he Colombian by birth, and was extorted then killed by that group.

Wasn’t there just a huge bust in a wealthy neighborhood in Cumbaya where they seized over 100 weapons? www.eluniverso.com/noticias/seguridad/quito-operativo-cumbaya-incautacion-armas-nota/?outputType=amp

Years ago I had a little beach house way up the coast about 90 minutes north of Esmeraldas city. Really glad I sold that place.

How do you know that the El Presidente is not in the cartels pocket?

@@jamesmcdonough2726 I can’t know that for certain. I think it’s unlikely but there is always a possibility, and his political enemies, some of which are cartel sponsored will be circulating similar accusations.

@@FallofftheMap As I stated in another post it appears the Presidents father is a major criminal in Ecuador along with being perhaps the richest man in the country. that gives me pause to think how about you?If the President of the USA had a father who was a known criminal that would be part of our daily news as well as all media attention.

@@jamesmcdonough2726 Noboa’s father is a wealthy banana baron. I’m sure there are people who like to believe anyone who becomes that wealthy must be a criminal and there will always be rumors. I haven’t seen or heard anything anything other that the typical unsubstantiated rumors that people always make up about anyone with that kind of wealth. Just because you think he might be a criminal doesn’t mean he is. That doesn’t mean he isn’t either. It’s just that there is nothing with enough credibility to make the sort of accusations you are making.

Thanks. I’m definitely trying to.

I was born in Quito ,Ecuador. Its a beautiful country with beautiful people but can be scary at times. Praying for your safe travels.

Thanks!

Having traveled most of the world I wouldn’t consider the US to be very authoritarian. Yes, they can be a bit sneakier about it when they are being authoritarian in one way or another, because Americans tend to lose their shit when they think that they are losing any of their rights or privileges. In most of the world people tend to be pragmatic about it. When faced with an existential threat to the existence of their country they are willing to accept some loss of rights if it means they don’t lose everything. Of course it doesn’t always work out as intended, but American politics really don’t translate well to other parts of the world.

Thanks. I didn’t realize that Esmeradas province was no longer the poorest province. It was when I lived there in a small town not far from the border. Yes, the proximity to Colombia plays a big factor in crime there, as well as cultural differences that cause many of the locals to feel disconnected from Ecuadorian society leaving a social power vacuum that the narcos were able to fill. Stay safe out there.

Thanks for listening

I wear a few different hats. Mostly I’m an “overseas” electrician. I am also an aspiring farmer and KZfaqr.

I would hesitate to consider Mexico or Colombia stable. They are both clearly more stable than Ecuador at the moment though.

I don’t entirely feel safe, at least not this week. My neighborhood in Quito is not the sort of area other expats live. It’s a bit rough. Mostly it’s driving from here to my farm and back that feels a little risky right now. There’s been several attacks on cars using firebombs and homemade explosives. I also worry about my kids because they stand out here and are likely kidnapping targets. When I’m out on my farm I feel perfectly safe. My neighbors are great and the community watches out for each other. As far as indigenous justice and protecting yourself and household. I’m not sure how well that would work out for a foreigner. They have recently changed the gun laws to make it easier for people to protect themselves but I wouldn’t like the odds facing the judicial system in Ecuador if I killed someone in self defense. Using some sort of less-than-lethal means would be a smarter move.

How ironically, back in the mid 80’s I used to walk around Quito all by myself and was just 11 y/o!

@@dagramirez there are still kids walking around Quito by themselves, but mostly because they’re out selling gum or candy in traffic. Most middle class families don’t let their kids out alone anymore.

In my opinion most of these conflicts happening around the world are connected. Russia and China have an invested interest in the drug wars in the Americas. I’ve heard it be described as sort of setting a tire fire under the US and it’s well documented that China is deliberately using fentanyl as a form of unconventional warfare. I’ve also heard that many of the unconventional weapons and techniques such as drones and tunnels used in places like Ukraine and Gaza were developed by the Mexican cartels. I have a bad feeling that all of this activity happening around the world at the same time is a build up to something big, a broader war between East and West and all of this is just positioning the pieces on the board.

@@FallofftheMap that is exactly the feeling I am getting as well. Ugh. I try to stay upbeat but man it's hard 😂

That’s not a comparison I would ever have thought to make

That was when things got so bad that people went to the homes of police officers and murdered their families.@@FallofftheMap

That’s true of many of them, but others, are gang leaders simply miscalculating because they have never seen the government act decisively before.

Yeah, it’s tragic that an area with so much potential is like that. I used to own a beach house 90 minutes north of Esmeraldas city. I loved how undeveloped and natural the whole area was, but there was always a sense of insecurity out there.

​​@@FallofftheMapMay I ask what happened to the beach house ?

So, I had purchased this cabin for… I think it was $18,000 if I remember right. I did a lot of remodeling work on it because it had unsafe stairs, no kitchen, and a disgusting bathroom. I invested about 15k in fixing it up. I thought I had lucked out and actually believed that it was worth somewhere between 50 and 70k, but two things changed my mind, the neighbors became increasingly more difficult to deal with and I quickly realized that at least half the year the climate was miserably hot, humid, and mosquito infested. The neighbors were the biggest problem. At first they made themselves helpful and I paid them to help take care of my property. Eventually it devolved into them pressuring me to pay them or my property would get robbed, by them. The other big problem was that the type of wood used was not sufficiently insect resistant and there was a local beetle eating my house. Our family moved back to Quito when my wife got pregnant. I figured it wouldn’t be difficult to sell a cheap beach house with such a nice garden and view, but after several years of losing money trying to keep up with the maintenance I acknowledged my mistakes and dropped the price until I sold it for 10k. It was a hard lesson about real estate in Ecuador. Many other expats always said to take your time, rent first, and do a lot of research into any location you’re considering buying. I got excited and didn’t listen, in part because a friend of mine who worked for the Correa government promoting tourism told me this was a good area and that I should invest there. He meant well, but we was wrong. While I lived there I learned from locals that the FARC had crossed over the border from Colombia a few years before and taken over the town for a few months. I slowly began to understand that this entire area is controlled more by the narcos than by the government and that living there put my family at risk.

One of the advantages Ecuador has is that the cartels made a terrible strategic error by attacking a TV station. The media was forced to choose their side in that moment. Ideally Ecuador is already receiving intelligence help from the US and being very quiet about it.

For my family’s safety I don’t share our neighborhood info online. It’s in the north in a lower middle class part of a mostly middle class neighborhood. I have a small farm near Quito I bought a few years ago. I’m still in the process of buying the larger farm in the Napo province.

What worries me about places like Mexico where the government is so thoroughly infiltrated that things seem relatively stable is that stability is not the final state, that when the cartels own the government the next step is something that looks more like Venezuela. I realize Venezuela took a very different path to becoming a narco state, but there’s more than one path to becoming a corrupt dictatorship, and I see Mexico as being on that path. I’m less informed about Colombia and Italy, so I hesitate to make uneducated guesses, other than to say that Italian cartels seem to be far more sophisticated and integrated into society in a way that makes them inseparable from Italian life. They have found a sort of balance and uneasy peace with society. They don’t threaten the existence of the state and chaos it would bring.

@@FallofftheMap Actually Colombia has a state within a state called the FARC which seems to have a truce has been made.I was there and know they control alot of the country side and leave cities alone for the most part The large cartels have been broken up and morphed into smaller ones If any group leaves the general population alone generally speaking what does the average Colombiañ care if the US population can't leave white powder out of its nose .Escobar in his day could of paid off Colombias national debt.He also built alot of apartments for underprivileged people in some areas of Medellin, this at a considerable rent discount.

Planing on waiting it out. I’m not in a position to move the family right now. It’s simply not possible.

I’m really happy to hear you had a peaceful experience here. As someone that has lived in Quito for years I definitely saw some weird shit going down, neighbor’s houses raided and left missing the front door, groups of Venezuelans stripped to their underwear to search for gang tattoos… its calm now, but my neighborhood was one of the places where things go tense.

I’m really happy to hear you had a peaceful experience here. As someone that has lived in Quito for years I definitely saw some weird shit going down, neighbor’s houses raided and left missing the front door, groups of Venezuelans stripped to their underwear to search for gang tattoos… its calm now, but my neighborhood was one of the places where things go tense.

I’ve visited a Mompichi a few times and a few years ago I lived in the Esmeraldas Province, though much farther north in Las Peñas. Yes, Mompichi is a relatively calm tourist town, but I wouldn’t consider it safe. Las Peñas was considered safe too, and that was true until the moment it wasn’t. While most of the locals in the town will try to protect the tourism industry they are surrounded by a part of the country where the narcos are influential and eventually it's likely that your little island of "safety" out there will be shattered.

Life is too short to live in fear.

Yeah, I think that’s an accurate assessment of the situation we face here in Ecuador. I’m hopeful that Noboa will be able to get help from the US with intelligence and possibly even military support.

Not really sure yet, I’m doing a bit of research into the cartel. They had a reputation for extreme brutality, but at some point seem to have learned to be a bit more businesslike from my impression, a cartel that outgrew its brutal gang war phase. I’m no expert though. Just trying to learn and absorb information. It’s hard to tell if they went quite because they learned to become more professional in how they run their cartel or because they got mostly wiped out by Mexican cartels and are no longer a big player.

I don’t understand this question. What is see eye aye?

​@FallofftheMap I think he means CIA, wouldn't be the first time they were part of the problem.

@@jessiesheldon-huffey1824 ah, should have gotten that. I think it’s very likely there is currently some CIA involvement but times have changed since the 80s and 90s. The drug war has shifted as China has started to use the Fentanyl trade as an unconventional form of warfare against the US. The CIA, in my opinion, is likely to have their interests aligned with the government of Ecuador in the fight against the Cartels, while China was closely aligned with the corrupt Correa government that spent years allowing the cartels to grow. China is actively trying to destabilize the Americas as a way to reduce American influence and power.

​​@@FallofftheMapThe CIA has a long history of using the illegal drug trade to fund operations that the US government doesn't. They use all parties involved to accomplish their objectives. They are involved in both the cartels and the government.

I believe you are referring the the 200 million deal where Ecuador exchanges only Russian military equipment for newer American made equipment. I think it’s a win/win, especially if the older equipment ends up being part of an aid package to Ukraine as Russia has accused.

It's 90 million over the next 5 years. On my opinion it's too long and useless help since we need more. Everything is nothing but a political move just as what happend in the last years. Nothing much has changed in terms of foreign cooperation to be honest

I wouldn’t assume that one specific aid package is the entirety of the aid Ecuador will receive. This is specifically a military equipment upgrade. If Ecuador continues to move towards the west and away from alliances with places like China and Cuba there will be more aid. Though, funneling cash into Ecuador isn’t really a long term solution. What Ecuador needs are long term partnerships to develop high value manufacturing. Ecuador used to manufacture cars. Now they don’t. Ecuador has the raw materials but has not attracted the right types of investment. Don’t just export balsa to China to build windmill blades. Manufacture the blades here. Don’t just export tuna, export canned tuna. Don’t just export avocados, export guacamole and avocado oil. Turn raw materials into high value exports here, generating jobs and creating a trade surplus.

I would say the average folks in Ecuador are far more welcoming.

Im right there with you. I first encountered Ed Calderon on another KZfaq channel. He hit home.

I’ve been here for over a decade. Things were slowly getting worse, but it’s never been like this. It very abruptly got way worse here.

No can do for reasons that are too complicated to explain here.

@@FallofftheMap After retiring at age 48 after becoming a whistle-blower, we looked at becoming expats there and elsewhere. Lack of ability to legally own firearms, and credibly defend my family was the deal killer for me, a former US Army Light Infantry Squad Leader...scenarios like this is what I feared. Corruption is everywhere here in the USA too, (I know), but at least here a man can lawfully protect his family. And in some Counties, be very much supported by the local Sherrif and community for his actions. We ended up in the Ozarks...great people, very low cost of living. 14th lowest tax burden in the US. I pay my property tax with a $100 bill, and get change back. Call 911 and response can often be measured in hours. At least here, we can lawfully defend ourselves against the occasional methead tweaker, etc. I'll be praying for y'all.

@@brotherbrovet1881 the gun laws recently changed here. It’s still nowhere near the rights you have in the US, but now it’s much easier to own, carry, and use a firearm in self defense. It’s not perfect, due to corruption and biases in the courts, but it is way better than it was a few years ago due two more conservative governments. My preference is for less than lethal self defense tools, such as a high powered 50cal air gun so I have less risk of hesitation and less worry about legal consequences. I’d rather a body stopper than a body dropper. That, and I’ve got occasional PTSD moodiness that makes owning a handgun unwise.

Or earbuds

The oldest does use headphones, but nothing has been successful at getting him to stop yelling into the mic when he’s gaming with friends and gets excited. The youngest is just a will do things like excitedly try to show me something in a game while I’m recording a video. They’re kids. They act like kids.

@@FallofftheMap yes you do bring up a good point. It's too bad there's not a tasty snack that's also healthy and affordable... They would have to lower the noise level or risk choking on tasty snacks.

Yes, and also there is nothing to be gained by abusing prisoners. There is no advantage and it puts everything at risk. It doesn’t just make the military and police look bad, it makes the president and government look bad.

@FallofftheMap I am near 60 they Don t get it latino are poor cause on their own lack of thinking like the black they need laws to be respected, lol who will trust them now ? We will dominate them instead, like ever

Ecuadorians, in my opinion, are more about patiently waiting and watching, and then taking decisive action rather than crying out anything. They tend not to speak up or complain at all but when the time comes they do what must be done.

Good question. I haven’t been to the coast in a while and I haven’t heard anything from anybody there since this started.

I was in Ayampe a week ago. Quiet and small. About a third foreigners. I think Ayampe is too small to be of much consequence to either cartels or police

@@jessiesheldon-huffey1824 Thanks for the update!

@@jessiesheldon-huffey1824 locations like that with a lot of foreign tourists usually have some cartel presence because of drug sales to the tourists. Those low level dealers tend to be the people with the least to lose and the easiest targets for police. From what I’ve heard similar places like Montañita and Canoa have remained relatively quiet so far, but I doubt it will remain that way.

@@FallofftheMap interesting take. Haven't heard of tourists buying drugs from cartel members. I would think most tourists with a drug issue wouldn't travel much. Seems like a very easy way to get yourself in a lot of trouble and get blackmailed.

Why?

South American drug lords are not the Mafia. @@FallofftheMap

@@enough1494 it sounds like we don’t share the same dictionary. To me, a mafia is a mafia whether it’s Italian, Albanian, Russian, or Latin American.

You must be correct, dictionary proves it. Glad I am not correct! @@FallofftheMap

Not exactly. During a calm moment on Sunday I drove from the farm to the apartment in Quito, and despite the risk I still go out in the neighborhood to buy things we need.

Thanks for the feedback

I often say the same thing to folks in the U.S.

Are you in the US? Have you asked yourself the same question?

I used to think that was the solution too. So far all the marijuana legalization in the US hasn’t hurt the cartels at all. In fact it’s part of what caused them to shift into fentanyl. There isn’t any practical way to legalize all drugs everywhere. Many places don’t have the capacity to deal with the social consequences and some things like fentanyl are simply too dangerous in my opinion. Also, the cartels have kind of passed a tipping point, expanding I to so many different types of crime as well as semi-legitimate businesses that we’ve past the point where legalization would do much.

@@FallofftheMap Isn't it the most likely option though? Legalising marijuana in a few states isn't anything like legalising all drugs across the world. The cartels might be involved in other areas, but the drug market is undoubtedly the major source of their funds. Take that away and you would reduce their power so much it would give authorities much more chance of dealing with the other areas they're involved in. A lot of the Fentanyl problem now apparently stems from other illegal drugs being laced with it so that people get hooked. This is a problem of prohibition. I hate cocaine, and people on it, but I find smoking marijuana extremely helpful for creating music, and magic mushrooms experiences can be spiritually and intellectually very meaningful, I can't say to people that like doing cocaine that my drug choices should be allowed and theirs illegal. Great analysis of the situation though. Ecuador was my first taste of the tropics, it all felt so peaceful and innocent back in 2012, it was a life changing experience. Although there were places in Quito we were already warned we shouldn't visit even back then, I'm very sad to hear what's happening now, and it makes me angry that it's the decisions and policies of people in wealthy countries like my own that I think provide the fuel for this fire.

Main profits for gangs have shifted already from primarily drugs to now human trafficking. This won't be fixed until people stop purchasing other people for sex, etc.

@@jessiesheldon-huffey1824 most of the human trafficking profits are from migrants paying the cartels as they make their journey north. That is a problem that likely doesn’t have any good solutions.

​@jakelesnake4927 Anyone who wants a drug can get it. Legalization / decriminalization eliminates the black market and the violence and corruption that comes with it.

If I were to go somewhere else it wouldn’t be back to the US. Moving my family is too difficult right now anyway. My eldest son can’t get a visa because his biological father won’t give permission and he’s too close to finishing school to make a big disruptive move right now. If Ecuador does collapse and become like Venezuela then we’ll move somewhere.

Opiniones aren’t like assholes at all. I’ve met people will lots of opinions, but I don’t know anyone with multiple assholes.

I hear you. As a gringo my risk assessment is a little different. I will try to be careful but I will also try live a normal life and show how beautiful and amazing Ecuador is.

​@@FallofftheMapI'm glad to hear that. This country can be a nice place too. I really dislike when some guys just bash negatively on the country. I think it's unfair . They live here but they don't support the country

Because you think sharing my opinions puts our family at risk or because it might stress out and scare my kids to hear about what’s happening?

The former ​@@FallofftheMap

Those are pidgins

You’ve hear of these things called accents, right?

We’re fine so far. There were a couple sketchy moments but mostly it’s just been a mild inconvenience. Having the kids back in online classes is a serious Covid flashback.