new video loaded: How Cocaine Became a Big Problem For Ecuador
As Washington made combating fentanyl a priority, cocaine trafficking surged — especially in Ecuador, where criminal groups have run rampant. Maria Abi-Habib, an investigative correspondent, reports after her trip to Ecuador, which is suddenly one of Latin America’s most violent places and a cocaine superhighway.
By Maria Abi-Habib, Leila Medina, Christina Shaman, Nikolay Nikolov, Laura Salaberry and Javier Manzano
December 5, 2025

