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** An Ecuador Prison Massacre Made Headlines — But the Criminal Dynamics Behind it Didn’t
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Liza Schmidt, Senior Editor
14 NOV, 2025
You may have seen the news out of Ecuador about the prison massacre on November 9.
The facts are horrific: at least 31 prisoners died and dozens were injured within 24 hours at the Machala prison in El Oro province. The violence resulted from clashes between former-allies-turned-rival gangs, the Lobos and the Sao Box, which the government claims was triggered by its pledge to transfer many prisoners to a new maximum-security prison.
Dozens of outlets around the region covered the tragedy. So, why didn’t we?
We decided not to cover this particular event because, though significant, it doesn’t tell us anything new about organized crime dynamics.
In this case, Ecuador’s recent prison massacre stems froma dynamic that we identified in 2024 ([link removed]) : the government’s efforts to unseat the country’s dominant criminal groups have prompted the formation of new groups who must fight for their piece of the criminal pie.
Unfortunately, these kinds of events happen often. In Ecuador, for example, prisons have beencentral to criminal groups’ rise to power ([link removed]) . As a result, violent clashes for control within prisons are common, especiallyin the last five years. ([link removed])
And this isn’t limited to Ecuador. In the last 15 years, we’ve reported on prison violence throughout the region: in Honduras ([link removed]) , Brazil ([link removed]) , Paraguay ([link removed]) , Uruguay ([link removed]) , El Salvador ([link removed]) , Venezuela ([link removed]) , Panama ([link removed]) , Guatemala ([link removed]) , Chile ([link removed]) , to name a few.
So instead of covering this particular incident, we focused on sharing context and data to help make sense of it – and when a development truly reveals a shift in criminal dynamics, illustrates the impact of a new security policy, or the emergence of a new power, you can be sure we’ll be there to unpack it.
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** Donor-Exclusive Event | The Synthetic Drug Revolution: Lessons From 10 Years in The Field ([link removed])
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In this exclusive event ([link removed]) for donors, we will delve into 10+ years of on-the-ground fieldwork to explore how synthetic drugs are reshaping organized crime and creating unprecedented challenges for policymakers.
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You may have noticed that we’ve tried to make this newsletter a bit more personal to better connect with readers like you. If you have comments or questions, let us know at
[email protected].
More about all the noteworthy stories from Latin America and the Caribbean that came across our desk this week below:
OnTheRadar (#OnTheRadar) | Editor’s Pick (#Editors-pick) #Editors-pick | Don’t Miss (#Dont-Miss) |In the Spotlight (#In-The-Spotlight) | Audio (#Audio)
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#OnTheRadar ()
** This Week in Organized Crime ([link removed])
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◉ ([link removed]) [link removed] bets on a new mega-prison to combat its growing security crisis. ([link removed])
◉ ([link removed]) Ongoing US strikes jeopardize drug trafficking intelligence sharing. ([link removed])
◉ ([link removed]) Impacts and implications of the US anti-drug campaign in international waters. ([link removed])
Watch this Reel ([link removed])
#Editor’sPick ()
Investigations > ([link removed])
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** Timeline of US Strikes Against Alleged Drug Boats ([link removed])
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Two months have now passed since the United States first initiated its bombing campaign against alleged drug traffickers in international waters, but now some countries have stopped sharing intelligence with the US government in protest of the continued strikes.
Since early September, at least 76 people have been killed in 19 strikes launched by US forces. However, questions remain over the legality and efficacy of the attacks.
Follow our timeline ([link removed])
< Criminal Profiles ([link removed])
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** In the Spotlight ()
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** The Lobos ([link removed])
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In the space of just a few years, the Lobos have evolved from a splinter group of the Choneros to one of Ecuador’s most powerful and innovative criminal organizations, with thousands of members spread across the country and within the prisons.
** Just this week, the group was involved in the latest deadly prison massacre to rock the country’s penitentiary system. Find out all you need to know about this ascendant criminal group in our in-depth profile.
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** Don’t Miss ()
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🔗 On the Radar: US Strikes Trigger International Rebuke ([link removed])
🔗 The Shifting Tides of Drug Trafficking on Venezuela’s Margarita Island ([link removed])
🔗 Who Are the ‘Pulpos,’ the Peruvian Gang Expanding Across South America? ([link removed])
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** #Audio () 11 NOV, 2025
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** Rasquiña's Revolution: How the Choneros Took Ecuador's Prisons ([link removed])
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The roots of Ecuador’s security crisis traced to one criminal visionary.
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