Recent actions by Ecuadorian authorities involving foreign nationals identified as potential security concerns reflect a more preventive and proactive approach by the country toward increasingly complex transnational threats. Authorities have intensified efforts to counter risks related to organized crime, illicit financing, and international networks operating across the region.
On March 25, 2026, Ecuadorian authorities arrested a Syrian citizen identified as M.H., whom the Ministry of the Interior described as an alleged member of Hezbollah. According to authorities, M.H. entered the country illegally and had a history of drug trafficking dating back to 2005, which led to an investigation into possible links to illicit financing networks.
That same day, Iranian national Sheikh Mohammad, director of the Ecuadorian-Iranian Cultural Center in Quito, was deported following an intelligence assessment. Media reports indicated that authorities suspected links to fundraising activities and ties to Iran’s Quds Force, an elite unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ecuadorian authorities framed both actions as preventive measures aimed at mitigating potential security risks.
These cases illustrate the type of transnational threats authorities are seeking to detect earlier. Facing increasingly interconnected criminal and illicit networks that operate across borders and through both legal and illicit channels, Ecuador is placing greater emphasis on prevention, early warning, intelligence sharing, and coordinated responses.
In this context, the Ecuadorian government is seeking to actively involve the public as a strategic component of national security through the use of the 131 Hotline. This confidential channel allows citizens to report suspicious activities and is part of Ecuador’s Rewards Program, an initiative of the Security Bloc that offers financial incentives for verifiable information that contributes to dismantling criminal and terrorist networks.
For authorities, these types of threats are not always visible at a large scale but often manifest through everyday indicators: irregular financial transactions, unusual logistical movements, or abrupt changes in commercial activity. Identifying and reporting these signs strengthens the state’s ability to respond early and effectively.
From illicit economies to interconnected threats
In recent years, Ecuador’s security environment has evolved significantly, driven by the expansion of drug trafficking and its integration with transnational networks. According to InSight Crime, the country has shifted from being primarily a transit corridor to becoming a key logistical hub for cocaine shipments destined for the United States and Europe. Ports such as Guayaquil, along with coastal provinces like Manabí and Esmeraldas, have emerged as focal points of criminal activity.
The diversification of illicit economies has accompanied this shift. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has documented the expansion of activities such as money laundering, extortion, and illegal mining. Ecuadorian authorities and international reporting have also noted that a significant portion of cocaine shipments moving from the region pass through Ecuadorian ports, although estimates vary.
In this environment, key sectors of the workforce — including transport operators, merchants, port personnel, and professionals — play an increasingly important role in the early detection of anomalies. Citizen reporting becomes a force multiplier for state intelligence and enforcement efforts.
Regional security analyses, including a Colombian Navy report, have warned about the potential for greater convergence between transnational criminal networks and external actors seeking to exploit illicit economies in Latin America. According to these assessments, cooperation between these actors could facilitate illicit logistics, financing, and operational activity across the region.
According to Peruvian security expert Jorge Serrano, these dynamics reflect an operational convergence. “Terrorist groups adopt tactics typical of organized crime to finance themselves, while criminal organizations resort to terrorist methods to expand their control,” he told Diálogo.
Operational capabilities and response
In response to these evolving challenges, in January 2026, the Ecuadorian government announced a new security plan that includes an investment of $180 million in advanced technology as part of its broader Plan Fénix, aimed at strengthening the country’s response to organized crime.
The measures include twin-engine helicopters, a multipurpose logistics vessel, a 3D radar system, scanners, drones for border surveillance, and the modernization of intelligence systems. “We will strengthen mobility and operational capacity in the air, at sea, and on land,” said Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo. These tools are designed to improve how authorities identify suspicious activity and act on information in real time.
International cooperation and shared responsibility
Strengthening these capabilities has gone hand in hand with expanded international cooperation. In early March, Ecuador and the United States launched joint military operations aimed at countering transnational criminal organizations and strengthen regional security. In 2025, the United States allocated $13.5 million in security assistance and an additional $6 million in drone-related capabilities.
On March 11, Ecuador and the United States further strengthened their collaboration by establishing an FBI office at the U.S. Embassy in Quito, enhancing cooperation with Ecuadorian authorities in areas such as criminal intelligence and investigative analysis. This cooperation allows Ecuador to access additional intelligence, technology, and operational support, strengthening its ability to confront threats that often extend beyond its borders.
Serrano emphasized that addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts. He noted that intelligence sharing, combined with citizen reporting, enables a more effective response to complex threats.
On the regulatory front, Ecuador has also tightened its legal framework through reforms that strengthen immigration controls and streamline deportation processes, aiming to reduce the use of national territory by transnational networks.
In this model, security is no longer viewed as the sole responsibility of the state but as a shared effort. A single phone call can contribute to preventing crimes, protecting communities, and disrupting criminal networks. Ecuador is increasingly adopting an approach in which security depends not only on state institutions, but also on cooperation with international partners and active citizen participation.
