Perfil criminológico de la delincuencia organizada en el Ecuador: caracterización de sus principales líderes y su influencia en la política ecuatoriana, desde el año 2019 hasta el año 2024

Abstract

Abstract:This research provides an updated and comprehensive understanding of the criminological profile of organized crime in Ecuador, through the systematic study of its main leaders and the mechanisms by which they have exerted influence on Ecuadorian politics between 2019 and 2024. This article contributes to the field of criminology by determining the common patterns in the social, symbolic, and operational trajectories of these individuals, highlighting their adaptive capacity, flexible hierarchical structure, and integration into illegal economies. It also explains how these criminal organizations have transcended the criminal sphere to influence state institutions, strategic territories, electoral processes, and political decisions through practices such as coercion and corruption. From an interdisciplinary perspective, this research allows us to understand organized crime not only as a criminal phenomenon but also as a structural problem of power, social control, and governance. In this sense, important input is offered for the design of comprehensive and effective criminal policies, aimed at addressing the structural factors of this phenomenon, and not only its violent manifestations or consequences.