Lorena Villavicencio, the sister of Fernando Villavicencio, a slain presidential candidate, was seen embracing her husband outside the morgue where her brother’s body is being held in Quito, Ecuador. The incident occurred on Thursday, August 10, 2023. The country is currently grappling with the issue of drug trafficking and a surge in violence, which has lasted for three years. The killing of Fernando Villavicencio, who dedicated his life to fighting crime and corruption, underscores the challenges that Ecuador’s next leader will face in combating gangs and cartels responsible for thousands of deaths.
On Thursday, six Colombian men were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Fernando Villavicencio, which took place in Quito the day before. Although he was not a frontrunner in the presidential race, his assassination less than two weeks before the special election highlights the ongoing struggle in Ecuador to curb the activities of criminal organizations. A police report revealed that the suspects were apprehended while hiding in a house in Quito. Law enforcement officers discovered various weapons, including shotguns, a 5.56-mm rifle, ammunition, and grenades, as well as a vehicle and a motorcycle. Ecuador’s Interior Minister Juan Zapata classified the killing as a “political crime of a terrorist nature” aimed at sabotaging the upcoming election. While it is unclear if the arrested Colombians are members of a criminal group, Zapata stated that the suspects have ties to organized crime.
Fernando Villavicencio, aged 59, had previously reported threats from affiliates of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, one of several international criminal groups operating in Ecuador. He believed that his campaign posed a threat to these organizations. The violent nature of his killing has left the Ecuadorian people devastated. Ecuador has become a major hub for drug smuggling due to its extensive coastline, shipping ports, and valuable exports. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified competition among drug cartels, leading to increased violence as they fight for control and territory. Local gangs have been enlisted, and even children have been recruited, resulting in unprecedented levels of violence in Ecuador. The country’s geographical position between Colombia and Peru, the world’s largest cocaine producers, has only exacerbated the issue. Weaknesses in the judiciary, police, and military institutions have further compounded the problem, allowing criminal actors to act with impunity.
The first half of this year saw a significant increase in violent deaths compared to the same period in 2022. In 2022, Ecuador recorded its highest number of violent deaths in history, with 4,600 deaths, twice the number in 2021. The killing of Fernando Villavicencio is the latest in a series of violent incidents, including the recent murder of the mayor of Manta. In response to the escalating violence, President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency in two provinces and the country’s prison system, while also deploying additional military personnel throughout the country.
Fernando Villavicencio, an independent journalist turned anti-graft campaigner, was a vocal critic of former President Rafael Correa’s government. He filed numerous complaints against high-ranking officials, including Correa himself, and played a critical role in exposing corruption. His investigations led to criminal proceedings and an eight-year prison sentence for Correa. Villavicencio was sentenced to 18 months in prison for defamation but later sought asylum in Peru after fleeing to Indigenous territory in Ecuador. His assassination is viewed as a direct threat to international criminal organizations due to his efforts to combat corruption.
The killing of Fernando Villavicencio could have a chilling effect on the upcoming election, sending a message that anyone who challenges corruption and illegality may pay with their life. The people of Ecuador are left fearing for their safety, and even politicians, who are expected to receive heightened security, are not exempt from violence. The nation continues to grapple with the rampant violence, with citizens resigned to living amid the ongoing crisis.