"Vacuna" Now Means Extortion: Criminal Networks Are Forcing Quito Businesses to Close

The word "vacuna" in Ecuador no longer means what you think it means.

The Shift

In 2026 Ecuador, when someone mentions "la vacuna," they're not talking about a medical shot. They're talking about the extortion payment that criminal networks demand from business owners in exchange for not destroying their livelihoods — or worse.

What was once a problem concentrated in Guayaquil, Esmeraldas, and other coastal cities has now firmly arrived in the capital. Extortion networks are operating in Quito neighborhoods including:

• Carapungo
• Calderón
• Comité del Pueblo
• Solanda
• Chillogallo

Business owners report receiving panfletos (pamphlets) or social media messages demanding payments ranging from $200 to $2,000, depending on the perceived economic capacity of the business. In one case in south Quito, extortionists entered a restaurant and told the manager to pay $500 or face consequences. In another, a business was threatened with arson unless it paid $100 monthly.

The Numbers

The scale of Ecuador's extortion crisis is staggering:

• 16,129 extortion cases were reported to the Fiscalía (Attorney General's office) in 2025 — up from 1,477 a decade ago
• A survey by the Observatorio Ecuatoriano del Crimen Organizado (OECO) found that 62% of small businesses have paid a vacuna or extortion demand
• 50% of victims said they had paid more than once
• Nearly half of victims did not report the crime, either out of fear or because they believed reporting "wouldn't help"
• At least 30% of formal businesses nationwide report being targeted

Who's Behind It

Experts identify two types of extortion operations:

1. Organized crime groups — Major gangs like Los Choneros, Los Lobos, and Los Tiguerones run sophisticated extortion networks, particularly in Guayaquil and coastal cities. Demands can range from $5,000 to $100,000 as one-time payments for larger businesses
2. Local criminal groups — Smaller operations in cities like Quito that have adopted the extortion model as a revenue source. These groups demand smaller monthly payments ($100–$500) from tiendas (corner shops), restaurants, and small businesses

How Businesses Are Responding

Diego Vivero, spokesperson for Ecuador's restaurant association, revealed that a national survey of business owners found extortion — not robbery — is their number one security concern. "We were surprised. We thought robbery would be the top issue. This also alerted the UNASE" (Ecuador's specialized anti-kidnapping and extortion police unit).

Business owners in Quito have begun organizing collectively to share information and coordinate with police. Some restaurants now operate behind closed doors, serving only known customers. Others have quietly absorbed the payments as a "cost of doing business" — a dangerous normalization of criminal activity.

Some owners have chosen to close permanently rather than submit to payments they cannot sustain.

What This Means for Expats

• Be aware, not alarmed. Extortion in Quito is primarily targeting Ecuadorian-owned small businesses in working-class neighborhoods, not tourist areas or expat-heavy zones like La Floresta, González Suárez, or Cumbayá — at least not yet
• If you own a business in Ecuador: Take demands seriously. Report any extortion attempt to the UNASE (Unidad Antisecuestro y Extorsión) through the Fiscalía or by calling ECU 911. Do not pay without consulting legal counsel, as payment does not guarantee safety and often leads to escalating demands
• Watch for expansion. The geographic spread from coast to highlands is a trend. Neighborhoods not currently affected may be targeted as networks expand their territory
• Support local businesses. Patronizing your favorite neighborhood restaurants and shops is more important than ever. Many are fighting to survive against dual pressures of extortion and economic uncertainty
• Emergency contacts: ECU 911 (24/7), Fiscalía General del Estado: (02) 398-3600

Sources: La Hora, El Universo, Expreso, El Comercio, OECO