Change Agents with Andy Stumpf Shield of the Americas: U.S. Special Forces Move Now to Stop Los Lobos in Ecuador
Mar 18, 2026
Chris Dalby, journalist and transnational organized crime expert who directs World of Crime, explains how U.S. forces are confronting Los Lobos in Ecuador. He breaks down how Ecuador became a cocaine transit hub. He details Los Lobos' rise from prison gangs, high-tech smuggling like subs and liquid cocaine, and the Shield of the Americas strategy. He also covers surveillance tools and the political and human costs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Cartel State Capture Extends To Public Services
- Los Lobos now function like a national transversal criminal group, embedding into services and state institutions.
- Dalby says they control parts of the Coast Guard, police commanders, and even deliver drinking water as a form of economic control.
Weigh Short Term Aid Against Long Term Sovereignty
- Accepting U.S. logistics, intelligence, and customs data access is a tempting shortcut for weak states but creates long-term dependency and sovereignty costs.
- Dalby warns Ecuador traded customs data and coastal basing access for U.S. operational support and funding.
Shield Of The Americas Could Normalize Military Action
- The March operations signal a potential new U.S. doctrine of military involvement in Latin American counternarcotics under 'Shield of the Americas.'
- Dalby highlights joint raids, curfews, and declarations of being 'at war' in four provinces as possible doctrine tests.