Escalating Drug Trade Through Ecuador’s Posorja Port Amid Rising Violence
In a concerning development, Ecuador has emerged as the leading cocaine exporter globally, predominantly via the Posorja terminal, a strategic port linking Latin America to Europe. Reports indicate that cocaine shipments from this region are increasingly concealed in legitimate cargoes such as fruit and flowers, as transnational criminal organizations intensify their operations, reports 24brussels.
The Posorja port, located in the coastal province of Guayas and inaugurated in 2019 with a $1.2 billion investment, has seen a dramatic increase in drug trafficking activities. Local authorities reported a seizure of 15.4 tons of narcotics in 2024, almost triple the amount from the previous year. The organized crime situation is exacerbating with two rival gangs fighting for control over lucrative routes to destinations including Spain, Germany, and Belgium, further complicating security efforts.
Recent statistics reveal a staggering escalation in violence. The 2025 report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime indicates a homicide rate of 45.7 victims per 100,000 inhabitants in the area around Guayaquil. This alarming figure underscores a rise in criminal activities, including sexual violence, human trafficking, and money laundering, as drug refining and packaging operations proliferate in border regions like Esmeraldas, Carchi, and Sucumbíos.
Despite increased police actions targeting drug trafficking, violent crime continues to rise, leaving residents—including port workers, fishermen, and farmers—vulnerable to organized crime threats. These communities are often coerced into assisting criminal networks, utilizing their resources under duress.
The UN report also details a shift in drug trafficking routes towards the Pacific coast, indicating Ecuador’s critical role in the international drug trade. The nation’s prominence in this illicit market is linked to major investments at the Posorja terminal, which is associated with the Nobis Holdings consortium, linked to the family of Ecuador’s current president, Daniel Noboa. The Noboa family has faced scrutiny due to their connection with a previous cocaine seizure at the port of Naportec in Guayaquil, where 700 kilograms were discovered.
President Noboa campaigned on a platform focused on security and anti-drug efforts, yet reports of forced disappearances attributed to police operations alongside nearly 3,100 homicides in the first quarter of 2025 raise questions about the effectiveness of his governance strategies.
Cocaine now comprises 10.5% of drugs circulating in Ecuador, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, with marijuana and opioids leading the statistics, illustrating a troubling trend that calls into question the government’s approach to organized crime.
The strategic significance of Ecuador to U.S. military interests in the region was underscored by the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signaling ongoing geopolitical tensions. While Washington’s military threats target Venezuela under the guise of combating drug trafficking, Ecuador continues to be a critical corridor for illicit trafficking activities supported by organized crime networks.