On the border between two rival gangs: CNN meets top commander deep in Ecuador’s gang territory | CNN

On the border between two rival gangs: CNN meets top commander deep in Ecuador’s gang territory

By David Culver and Barbara Arvanitidis, CNN

Published 7:19 AM EDT, Thu August 7, 2025

Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 6.13.15 AM.png

On the border between two rival gangs: CNN meets top commander deep in Ecuador’s gang territory

Local contacts help CNN Senior National Correspondent David Culver and team navigate through rival gang territory in Tres Postas, Ecuador, and a top commander agrees to speak to his role in the country’s exploding cycle of violence. Watch "Ecuador: The Narco Superhighway" on "The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper" Sunday August 10 at 9pm ET on CNN.

3:11 • Source: CNN

World News 16 videos

Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 6.13.15 AM.png

On the border between two rival gangs: CNN meets top commander deep in Ecuador’s gang territory

3:11

Now playing

• Source: CNN

jk widow 2.jpg

Khashoggi's widow's message to Trump after he met with MBS

1:52

Now playing

• Source: CNN

UNSC reax 1.png

'I absolutely reject it' : Palestinians in Gaza react to UN Security Council vote to endorse Tump's Gaza plan

0:50

Now playing

• Source: CNN

thumbnail trump mexico strikes sot 1.jpg

Trump asked if he would strike Mexico

0:58

Now playing

• Source: CNN

web thumb.jpg

US to designate Venezuelan cartel as a foreign terrorist organization

0:52

Now playing

• Source: CNN

16x9 gaza flooding.00_01_07_13.Still002.jpg

Heavy rainfall devastates displaced Palestinians in Gaza

1:17

Now playing

• Source: CNN

16x9 astronauts 1.jpg

Astronauts return home after being stuck in space

0:59

Now playing

• Source: CNN

An Indigenous demonstrator is held by a staff member as protesters force their way into the venue hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), in Belem, Brazil, on November 11, 2025.

Indigenous protesters clash with COP30 security

0:47

Now playing

• Source: CNN

Still Pokrovsk digi.png

Footage shows Russian troops approaching key Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk

1:04

Now playing

• Source: CNN

UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike

2:49

Now playing

• Source: CNN

Video shows suspected suicide attack in Pakistan

0:25

Now playing

• Source: CNN

<p>CNN's Saskya Vandoorne speaks to an unexpected fashion icon -- the French teenager who became an internet sensation when he was caught on camera looking dapper close to police following the heist at the Louvre in Paris.</p>

CNN tracks down French teenager in viral photo

1:39

Now playing

• Source: CNN

trump wide.jpg

Syria's leader: From a $10M bounty on his head to a White House guest

1:42

Now playing

• Source: CNN

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy leaves his home Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 in Paris as he heads to prison to serve time for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to be released from prison pending appeal

1:38

Now playing

• Source: CNN

<p>CNN’s Salma Abdelaziz visits the ancient sites of Karahantepe and Göbeklitepe in southeastern Turkey — two groundbreaking archaeological digs that are rewriting what we know about early human civilization. Older than the pyramids and Stonehenge, these settlements may mark the moment humans first began living together in permanent, peaceful communities.</p>

Secrets of a 10,000-year-old village uncovered

2:55

Now playing

• Source: CNN

BBC leaders resign amid scandal over Trump speech edit

2:53

Now playing

• Source: CNN