Ecuador has become the new frontline in an escalating drug war.

And ordinary people are the ones paying the price as the country’s murder rate doubledlast year.

Rival drug cartels have taken over Ecuador’s largest city, Guayaquil, in a bid to control lucrative new drug routes to Europe and the United States.

Our reporter, Guillermo Galdos, visited the once peaceful city for Unreported World, and spent two weeks with the local police, who are now outgunned and outnumbered.

Today, Krishnan talks to Guillermo about what has driven Ecuador to become a major player in this bloody turf war and what can be done to stop it.

Warning: this episode contains content some may find disturbing.

Sources: CGTN

Produced by: Rachel Evans