Specific information on organized crime in Ecuador could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

However, according to a 10 September 1996 InterPress Service (IPS) report, former president Bucaram signed a decree against crime and announced that custom posts would be militarized as a means to curb contraband.

According to the Associated Press (AP), a congressional anti-drug trafficking commission was established in May 1997 following the arrest of an Ecuadorian buisnessman for an alleged smuggling operation to Europe (11 July 1997). The same report adds that the commission was set up to investigate to what extent money generated by drug sales had penetrated the political landscape in Ecuador (ibid.). Additional information on the government's National Congress Drug Trafficking Investigation Commission can be found in the attached 1 September, 30 July and 5 March 1997 Voz de los Andes reports.

Two other Voz de los Andes reports state that Ecuador signed cooperation agreements with Paraguay and with the United States to assist the government to combat drug trafficking (26 Aug. 1997; 26 June 1997). With the United States government, Ecuador signed an agreement to establish a "Port and Airport Information Section," which will come under the jurisdiction of the Intelligence and Joint Coordination Center of Ecuador's national police (ibid., 26 June 1997). Please consult the attached document for additional information on the Ecuador's Port and Airport Information Section.

The attached 6 September 1997 El Universo report states that the Ecuadorian government approved reforms to the Law on Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances that will permit it to divert funds from the sale of goods and properties seized by drug traffickers to anti-drug initiatives. For example, the initiative will divert 50 per cent of the funds to police efforts to fight drug trafficking (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

The Associated Press (AP). 11 July 1997. Carlos Cisternas. "Ecuador's Judges, Politicans Implicated in Drug Scandal." (NEXIS)

El Universo [Guayaquil, in Spanish]. 6 September 1997. "Ecuador: Congress Approves Sale of Drug Traffickers' Assets." (FBIS-TDD-97-253/WNC)

InterPress Service (IPS). 10 September 1996. Mario Gonzalez. "Ecuador: Bucaram Ends a Month With Football, Music and Diplomacy." (NEXIS)

Voz de los Andes [Quito, in Spanish]. 26 August 1997. "Alarcon Ends Brief Visit to Paraguay; Uruguay, Chile Next." (FBIS-LAT-97-238/WNC)

_____. 26 June 1997. "Minister on Drug Enforcement Agreement With US, Corruption." (FBIS-TDD-97-178/WNC)

Attachments

The Associated Press (AP). 11 July 1997. Carlos Cisternas. "Ecuador's Judges, Politicans Implicated in Drug Scandal." (NEXIS)

El Universo [Guayaquil, in Spanish]. 6 September 1997. "Ecuador: Congress Approves Sale of Drug Traffickers' Assets." (FBIS-TDD-97-253/WNC)

Voz de los Andes [Quito, in Spanish]. 1 September 1997. "Commission: Ecuador Launders About $25 Billion Annually." (FBIS-TDD-97-248/WNC)

_____. 30 July 1997. "Congressman Says Ecuador Has Become Drug Producing Country." (FBIS-TDB-97-211/WNC)

_____. 26 June 1997. "Minister on Drug Enforcement Agreement With US, Corruption." (FBIS-TDD-97-178/WNC)

_____. 5 March 1997. "Money Laundering Commission Refutes U.S. Criticism." (FBIS-LAT-97-067/WNC)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report 1997. 1997.

Andean Newsletter [Lima]. 1997.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practice for 1996. 1997.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1997.

Latin American Weekly Reports [London]. 1997.

Latin American Regional Reports: Southern Cone Report [London]. 1997.

Latin American Weekly Reports: Special Reports [London]. 1997.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).