The U.S. and Central America are common destinations for cocaine trafficked through Ecuador. According to a United Nations International Narcotics Control Board report, cocaine seizures in Ecuador rose by over 252 percent from 2010 to 2015.
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The clashes between rival gangs are not exclusive to these impoverished areas. Earlier this year, 56 people were killed in a prison in Manaus as a result of a violent jail riot in Brazil.
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The Middle Eastern culture is collectivist by nature, where the behavior of one person reflects on the family he or she represents. Families who harbor drug addicts are less likely to talk about it to officials and centers that may offer rehabilitation.
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