For a long time, Ecuador was the country of volcanoes, of jungles, a popular holiday destination. The murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio now sheds light on a dramatic development. The country has developed into a narco-state full of violence – our reporter experienced this again and again during his research on site.
For years Ecuador was different. While Colombia was the land of drug trafficking to the north and Peru the land of political instability to the south, the small Andean country seemed to maintain peace and tranquillity. Located between the Pacific and the Amazon, it was the holiday destination for Americans or Europeans who liked to learn Spanish here, a state of magnificent volcanoes, indigenous diversity and numerous valuable raw materials.