Criminal organisations threaten Ecuador's shrimp industry, prompting private security push

Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) is promoting the use of private sector funding to strengthen security for the country's shrimp farming industry, which it says is under direct threat from criminal organisations.

The industry group noted that while the National Police and the Ecuadorian Navy's maritime directorate carry out more than one thousand operations a month in strategic areas, these authorities still have limitations in resources, technology, and equipment.

The CNA is encouraging private companies to make direct contributions to security institutions under a law that provides tax incentives for such support. The group stated these contributions would strengthen the operational capacities of the authorities and protect personnel working in high-risk areas.

However, the CNA also stated that this must be accompanied by firmness from the justice system. The chamber criticised what it described as the "immediate release of individuals detained in operations against organised crime, without a rigorous and responsible process," arguing that this weakens the work of security institutions.