Renato Rivera Rhon’s recent study “Captura carcelaria: la gobernanza criminal en el sistema penitenciario de Ecuador,” commissioned by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI‑TOC), maps a parallel criminal economy that runs inside Ecuadorian prisons.
What the report reveals
The analysis, based on interviews with former officials, lawyers and intelligence personnel, shows that gangs set prices for basic goods far above market rates. A litre of oil or a sack of flour can cost up to $20, although a paracetamol tablet sells for $3‑$5 compared with $0.30 in the formal market.
Hygiene items are also marked up; a sanitary towel is priced at $20. The study calls the premium for reduced violence a “sistema de enganche,” a one‑time payment of roughly $1,500 that families must make to place an inmate in a comparatively safer pavilion.
Arms are trafficked inside the facilities for steep fees—about $4,000 for a revolver and $15,000 for an assault rifle—highlighting networks that bypass prison and military controls.
Internal “bazares” manage family‑sent money, charging a 10 % commission on each transfer. Recent state raids have curbed cash use, but digital transfers from outside have risen, showing the market’s adaptability.
La higiene y la salud también tienen tarifa
Beyond food, the gangs act as sole suppliers of health and hygiene products, imposing tariffs that function as tools of domination.
The “sistema de enganche” does not guarantee lasting protection; it merely secures a temporary truce contingent on further payments.
La corrupción sostiene el negocio
The report links the expansion of this economy to overcrowding, scarcity and the lack of effective state provision. It estimates that 20 %‑30 % of illicit transaction values are diverted as bribes to prison guards, police, military personnel and facility directors, enabling the flow of goods and control of pavilions.
Extorsión a las familias desde el exterior
Families are pressured through “vacunas familiares,” an extortion scheme that rose from $150 before prison massacres to $400 afterwards, reaching $1,500 in 2025 at complexes such as Guayas.
Women—mothers, partners and sisters—bear the disproportionate financial burden, fearing retaliation against inmates if they fail to pay.
Housing inside prisons is also commodified: a bed costs $200‑$300 per week, a mattress $200, and food $5‑$10.
Why it matters
The pricing structure turns fundamental survival needs into commodities, forcing families to shoulder costs that can exceed $1,500 for basic protection. This dynamic amplifies the economic power of gangs, intertwining prison control with external criminal enterprises.
Corruption that siphons up to a third of illicit revenues entrenches the illicit economy, undermining any state effort to enforce security or provide basic services.
What could happen next
Analysts expect that, unless the government implements comprehensive rehabilitation, oversight and anti‑corruption reforms, the prison market will continue to thrive, potentially expanding its reach into public contracts and other sectors.
Should digital transfer monitoring improve, gangs may adapt by developing more sophisticated laundering techniques, maintaining their revenue streams despite heightened state scrutiny.
For more context on Ecuador’s broader violence trends, notice Un asesinato por hora: Ecuador cerró 2025 con 9.216 homicidios intencionales, así se dividió el mapa de violencia.
Details on prison escapes can be found at Así es El Rodeo, la cárcel de Portoviejo de donde se escaparon ocho reos en dos semanas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What items are sold at inflated prices inside Ecuadorian prisons?
According to the report, a litre of oil or a sack of flour can cost up to $20, a paracetamol tablet $3‑$5, and a sanitary towel $20, far above the official market prices.
How do families pay for safety for their incarcerated relatives?
Families may make a one‑time “sistema de enganche” payment of about $1,500 to place an inmate in a less violent pavilion, and they also pay ongoing fees for “vacunas familiares,” which rose to $1,500 in 2025 in some complexes.
What role does corruption play in the prison economy?
The study estimates that 20 %‑30 % of the value of illicit transactions is diverted as bribes to prison staff, police, military personnel and directors, enabling the flow of goods and the control of pavilions.
How might these dynamics affect the broader fight against organized crime in Ecuador?
Worth a look