In the aftermath of deadly prison riots and economic fallout from the arrival of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, Ecuadorians are grappling with a historic four-year spike in violent crime, which hit new highs in 2021. Murders in the country have doubled from January to August this year, according to the Ministry of the Government. Additionally, armed assaults increased by 28.4 percent, vehicle theft is up 58 percent, and burglaries have risen 16 percent. While there’s no singular culprit, retired police officer Andres “Frankie” Delgado said drug trafficking plays a major part. “It’s not a coincidence that the provinces most affected [by the rise in crime] also have a history of drug smuggling,” Delgado told The Epoch Times. He lives in Portoviejo, which is the capital of Manabi province, and says drug trafficking in the coastal provinces has always been an issue. “It’s easy to smuggle things out on boats, especially in Esmeraldas, due to its proximity to Colombia.” Back …