Análisis normativo de la delincuencia organizada en el Ecuador

Abstract

Currently, organized crime has experienced an abysmal and accelerated growth in our society, becoming one of the greatest threats to the country's security and stability. These criminal networks, generally structured by more than three people, severely affect public peace and endanger social integrity. This phenomenon is driven by several factors, among which institutional weakness, high poverty rates, unemployment, and Ecuador’s strategic location along routes used for drug trafficking stand out. These conditions facilitate the infiltration of criminal organizations into economic, security, and social sectors, expanding their power and influence throughout the national territory. Although the Organic Integral Penal Code (COIP) has incorporated regulations to combat this type of crime, the lack of specific aggravating circumstances and a clear definition of the offense of organized crime creates difficulties in the application of the law, favors impunity, and hinders effective criminal prosecution. Consequently, the expansion of criminal groups in our country reveals shortcomings in the legal system and the urgent need for comprehensive reform. This reform should aim to strengthen sanctions, define criminal behaviors more precisely, and improve investigative mechanisms, all while guaranteeing respect for human rights and promoting greater security for all citizens.