SUMMARY

The conflict between Los Lagartos and Mafia 18 emerged in 2023 as the gangs vied for control over drug trafficking routes in southern Guayaquil, namely the city’s port and the Guasmo Sur neighborhood. Both groups provided logistical services, including storage, transport and smuggling of drugs to larger transnational cartels such as the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel New Generation. The killings of leadership figures of the Mafia 18, such as George Samir Maestre Mena, alias “Samir”, in October 2023, and Braulio Vicente Bailón Obando, alias “Braulio” in December 2024, fuelled new waves of violence between the groups.

The violence between Los Lagartos and Mafia 18 has had severe repercussions on local communities. In December 2023, a tragic incident occurred in Guasmo Sur where four children were mistakenly killed in an attack intended for Los Lagartos members. Additionally, Los Lagartos' tactics, including the use of explosives for extortion, have led to the closure of businesses and the displacement of families in the area.

The non-state conflict between Los Lagartos and Mafia 18 was first included in UCDP data in 2023. By June that year, the conflict between the two gangs had resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.