Organized crime and national sovereignty: the role of security forces and military intervention.

Abstract

This project investigates the increase in crime in Ecuador due to transnational organized crime and its impact on security. It examines the legal feasibility of employing the Armed Forces in complementary activities against organized crime without declaring a state of exception, based on their mission to defend sovereignty. Information was gathered through bibliographic sources and a survey designed to obtain opinions from experts on the subject. The methodology combines qualitative and quantitative approaches with grounded theory research. The results indicate that it is possible for the Armed Forces to intervene in exceptional situations or in line with their constitutional mission without the need for additional constitutional reforms.