JARAMIJO/SAN MATEO, ECUADOR ¨C At first light on Ecuador¡¯s Pacific coast, small fishing boats fan out from the villages ?of San Mateo and Jaramijo, their bows pointed toward deeper waters and the promise of a good catch. Other boats come in from the rolling surf to battered coves, where crews unload baskets of tuna and swordfish and traders rush to inspect the day¡¯s haul.
The scene belies the dangers some fishers face pushing out into these waters. Onshore, drug cartels have turned the small ports of Ecuador¡¯s Manabi province into a cocaine-trafficking hub, extorting local fishers who are prized for their navigation skills.
The cartels present an impossible choice: earn more than a year¡¯s legal income smuggling drugs, or face extortion, threats and violence.
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