SUMMARY

Mafia 18 was a criminal gang group operating in Ecuador since 2022. The groups emerged as a splinter from Los Lagartos, following internal disagreements over control of southern Guayaquil. Mafia 18 primarily operated in areas of Guayaquil and its surroundings, mainly Guasmo, where they rivaled Los Lagartos.

The group was led by George Samir Maestre Mena, alias “Samir”, an associate of the Los Choneros leader, Leandro Norero Tigua, alias “El Patrón”, who was killed after Samir reportedly betrayed him in October 2022. Samir himself was killed in October 2023, after which Jeremy Zambrano, alias “Frenillo”, emerged as one of the new heads of the organization. It was estimated that they consisted of around 2 500 members.

Between 2024 and 2025, the group expanded beyond southern Guayaquil into other cantons of Guayas province, including Daule, Nobol, and Santa Lucía. These areas were strategically important due to their connection to drug trafficking routes leading to the port of Guayaquil. This expansion triggered new conflicts with rival groups such as Los Tiguerones.

Mafia 18 was involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and contract killings. In early 2024, it was listed among the 22 organizations designated as terrorist groups by the Government of Ecuador.

Mafia 18 has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organized violence.