Mexican and colombian cartels have infiltrated local gangs as they vie for lucrative drugs routes. Ecuador was hit hard by covid and theyve taken advantage of a country broken by a pandemic and by corrupt politics. The police are at pains to show me theyre fixing the problem, but when theyre having to protect themselves with sandbags in the police station, you realise this is a war without end. This used to be one of the main routes for traffickers. People would come up here with Stolen Phones and jewellery and exchange those goods for drugs up here, but the police have taken back this area. That said, the police have lost so much more control of the city of guayaquil. The bars on all the windows in this neighbourhood tell you all you need to know about the lack of security here. Angie fears for her four children. The police are powerless, she says. Just two weeks ago her neighbour was shot dead outside his daughters school. Translation all i want is security, thats the only thing that
we also need to work on the social side. we are feeling these organisations with young, new members. organisations with young, new members- organisations with young, new members. ., ., members. but parading through drug-trafficking members. but parading through drug-trafficking territory - members. but parading through drug-trafficking territory is - members. but parading through drug-trafficking territory is not l drug trafficking territory is not without its risks. shortly after our interview, a shoot out brought an end to campaigning. politics is complicated here in ecuador. as long as demand for cocaine keep storing, the cartels will fight for domination and the body count will keep rising. katy watson, bbc news in guayaquil. mortgage rates in the us have hit their highest level in 21 years. on thursday the average interest rate on a fixed 30 year mortgage went above 7%. rising mortgage rates have seriously disrupted the us housing market, and mark a long term shift in one of