Global Initiative’s 2025 investigation reveals Ecuador’s gold sector has shifted from informal artisanal mining to a criminally exploited industry

The Global Initiative’s 2025 report identifies the infiltration of organized crime into Ecuador’s artisanal gold mining sector, enabled by weak oversight, corruption, and opaque export practices. It recommends enhancing financial transparency, enforcing traceability systems, and strengthening law enforcement to disrupt illicit gold supply chains and associated environmental harm.