Ecuador: Human Trafficking by Russian Mafia

According to ElComercio.com human trafficking rings in Ecuador have links to the Russian mafia, which is confirmed by an undercover agent of the Ecuadorian Police. Officials add the Chinese mafia is also involved. A court-case is underway involving the company, Single Register of Taxpayers (RUC) that in 2009 offered a Russian citizen false identification papers claiming Ecuadorian nationality for $15,375. El Comercio investigated and found a police report revealing that in 2009 Quito was affected with 7% of human trafficking cases nationally, which rose to 13.9% in 2010. The report shows 3% of national human trafficking cases in Esmeraldas (2009) rose to 6.9% in 2010. Since 2006, the Russian government has asked for the extradition of nine Russian criminals hiding in Ecuador. Of these requests, two have been denied, which El Comercio reports give Russian fugitives a place to hide from authorities.Read Article