Waiting with the drug police in Ecuador, where even colleagues are not trusted

According to Ecuador’s Ministry of the Interior, the number of executions last year was the highest in the world, with more than 9,200 people killed. This is despite President Nobo’s iron-fisted actions in the past two years. Critics say it has failed. The top crime bosses were arrested, which left the gangs disbanded, but multiplying.

Many here believe that the war on gangs will never be won.

Captain Bustamante continues to fight.

When we join him for another operation, he is hiding watching a bird’s eye view from the drone. At the edge of the playground he sees three figures roaming around – “traffickers” – caught in the act. They are at the bottom of the drug chain, sold locally, by the minute, not by the kilo.

Within minutes, he and his team tracked the suspects to their home. The beat went out again, and soon they entered the kitchen, a middle-aged woman protested, and a young girl was crying.

The police move from room to room, with torches – no power – open wardrobes and lift mattresses. Upstairs, you will find a hiding place behind the window. A young suspect was arrested. Two others were handcuffed in another room. All three denied having drugs and were taken away.

The captain found “H” miniature paper packets placed in a vase nearby. It is a highly addictive mixture of small amounts of heroin sold by neighborhood dealers for $1.00 (£0.75) per packet.

One of the suspects has been charged and could face up to five years in prison if convicted. Prosecutors released the remaining two. Senior officers say it happens often. They blame corruption in the justice system and prosecutors.