In a shocking and tragic turn of events, an anti- corruption Ecuadorian Presidential candidate,
Fernando Villavicencio, renowned for speaking against cartels and corruption was assassinated
in Ecuador at a political campaign in the capital. During the government of former President
Rafael Correa from 2007 to 2017, complaints against high ranking officers and members of the
Correa government were filed by him as he was the most critical of corruption. As news of the
assassination spread, grief and shock swept through the crowds of Ecuador and South
America.
President of Ecuador Guillermo Lasso confirmed his death on social media and said in a
statement that the criminals will not go unpunished and suggested that the killing of Villavicencio
was an organised crime. According to local media, Villavicencio, a 59 year old former lawmaker
and journalist was polling at 7.5% voting intention. Villavicencio was one of the eight candidates
in the upcoming August 20 Presidential election.
The Suspect Who Died From Injuries
The attorney general’s office revealed on Wednesday that a suspect in the killing of Villavicencio
died in custody from wounds sustained during a shoot out after the killing. The police have so
far detained 6 suspects following several raids in Quito. The office also confirmed that the Fire
department first announced the death of the suspect who was badly injured along with a
security personnel. According to the Washington Post, the gunman also threw a grenade towards
Villavicencio’s crew, however it did not explode. Describing the incident as a terrorist attack, the
police confirmed that several others were injured, including other officers as well.
Viral Videos On Social Media
Videos on Social media have shown the candidate being surrounded by the guards as he walks
out of the event. Villavicencio can then be seen entering a white truck followed by the gunman
who shot him in the head. Patricio Zuquilanda, Villavicencio’s campaign adviser, confirmed that
the candidate had received death threats prior to his assassination which was reported to the
authorities.
How Quickly Ecuador Went From a Peaceful Country to a Safe Haven for Drug Cartels
Ecuador in just a few years has become a safe haven for drug cartels with a total of 210 tons of
drugs being seized in a year. The narcotrafficking industry in Ecuador has made it an
increasingly attractive source of drug manufacturing and distribution. Out of 300,000 shipping
containers departing from Ecuador’s Guayaquil each month, only 20% are searched up by the
authorities. Drugs are transported from the hidden ports of Ecuador into the U.S and Europe
which are then used at parties by college and club students. Drug linked violence first spiked in
2018 in Ecuador.
