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News from Ecuador, for the world

EE
economy

Ecuador's $300 Million Electricity Fraud: How CNEL Officials Allegedly Gamed 400,000 Customer Accounts

Prosecutors raided CNEL offices across three provinces after the Energy Minister revealed a decade-long billing manipulation scheme affecting 400,000+ accounts. Officials allegedly cut invoices by 80% in exchange for bribes.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 29, 2026
EE
breaking

30 Ingredients Just Dropped From Ecuador's Over-the-Counter Medicine List — Here's What Changed

ARCSA reviewed 2,100+ registered products and reclassified 30 active ingredients as prescription-only. If you're used to buying certain medicines at the farmacia without a receta, some of those purchases just got harder.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 29, 2026
EE
safety

600 Drones Have Tried to Breach Ecuador's Newest Mega-Prison — All Were Stopped

Interior Minister Reimberg told AFP that organized crime groups have launched roughly 600 drone attempts at El Encuentro prison since it opened. The government says it will build as many mega-prisons as needed.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 29, 2026
EE
breaking

17 Million Records Leaked From Ecuador's Transit Agency — What Expats Need to Know

A threat actor published 17 million records from Ecuador's ANT, including cédula numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and vehicle details. The agency hasn't acknowledged the breach. Here's what was exposed and what to do.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 28, 2026
EE
economy

IVA Drops to 8% on Hotels, Restaurants, and Tours This Weekend — Decree 368 Explained

President Noboa signed Decreto 368 cutting the tourism IVA from 15% to 8% for the May Day long weekend (April 30–May 3). Hotels, restaurants, car rentals, and travel agencies all qualify. Here's how it works.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 28, 2026
EE
breaking

Ecuador Just Pulled 30 Active Ingredients From Pharmacy Shelves — What Changed and Why

ARCSA reviewed over 2,100 products and removed 30 active ingredients from over-the-counter status, including triclosán and mercury chrome. Some cold medications now require prescriptions. Here's the new reality at your local farmacia.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 28, 2026
EE
safetyguayaquil

Woman Kidnapped Through Ride-Share App in Guayaquil — Robbed of $1,000 and Threatened With Death

A young woman was abducted in Urdesa after boarding what appeared to be a legitimate ride-share vehicle. Three attackers forced her to unlock her banking apps via facial recognition, drained over $1,000, and demanded $500 more for her release.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 28, 2026
EE
economy

Ecuador Needs 900–1,000 MW It Doesn't Have — and Oil Production Just Hit a 16-Year Low

The incoming Energy Minister inherits a five-front crisis: a 900+ MW power generation gap, record electricity demand of 5,374 MW, oil output at its lowest since 2003, and a dormant mining cadastre. Here's what that means for daily life.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 27, 2026
EE
economy

Ecuador Signs Its First Open-Pit Gold Mine Contract — $1.6 Billion Investment in El Oro Province

The Cangrejos project, ranked 13th among the world's largest undeveloped gold deposits, gets a 26-year exploitation contract. Chinese-backed Odin Mining will invest $1.6 billion and generate 1,168 jobs. The government expects $6 billion in total revenue.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 27, 2026
EE
economy

What You'll Actually Get From IESS When You Retire on Ecuador's $482 Basic Salary

The math: 30 years of contributions at minimum wage gets you $361/month. Forty years gets you the full $482. IESS uses your five best earning years, not your last salary. Here's the complete breakdown.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 27, 2026
EE
politics

May Day Feriado: Ecuador Gets Four Days Off Starting April 30 — Decree 354 Details

President Noboa's Decreto Ejecutivo 354 bridges Thursday April 30 to the May 1 national holiday, giving public and private sector workers four consecutive days off. Overtime is double pay. Here's what closes.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 27, 2026
EE
safetysierra

40 Centimeters of Hail Buries Tulcán — Over 50 Homes Flooded in Northern Border City

A Sunday afternoon hailstorm dumped 40+ cm of ice on Ecuador's northernmost city. Neighborhoods across southern Tulcán flooded, two landslides closed the E-35 highway, and emergency crews are still clearing damage.

Chip MorenoChip Moreno·April 27, 2026