Ecuador's fishing, aquaculture, and agricultural industries faced over 900 extortion threats between mid-July and August 2024, according to a report to a report by the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA), Extra Ecuador reported.

The trade group said most cases occurred along coastal provinces, especially Guayaquil, Duran, Samborondon and the coastal areas of El Oro, Esmeraldas, Manabi and Santa Elena.

Citing national police and ECU 911 security data, the aquaculture chamber said the sectors saw an average of 20 daily extortion attempts. However, 75% of victims do not report incidents to police.

¡HOY 18H00! Infórmate de las cifras delincuenciales, las incidencias extorsivas en el perfil costero, los tipos de extorsión y las acciones que realiza la CNA en materia de seguridad.

SUSCRÍBETE a el Boletín de Seguridad de la Cámara Nacional de Acuacultura. ➡️… pic.twitter.com/1wzE9tulS5

— Cámara Acuacultura (@cnaecuador) September 2, 2024

Extortion takes two main forms -- virtual, with criminals posing as leaders and making threats by telephone or online, and in-person, with perpetrators familiar with targets using violent intimidation.

To combat the rise, industry groups launched surveillance networks and radio communications systems for transport vehicles. However, extortion remains an escalating threat impacting Ecuador's vital fishing and agricultural economies.

These measures aim to mitigate the growing threat of extortion in Ecuador's vital economic sectors.

In a related report, police officials said Ecuador has seen over 2,100 kidnappings and 10,000 extortion cases this year, according to an article in El Universo . The Force for Investigating Extortion (FICE), created this year, has conducted 20 operations within five days, arresting 77 people.

Authorities attribute much of the extortion to organized gangs like Tiguerones, Lobos and Aguilas. A 95% yearly increase in cases prompted the creation of a special anti-extortion police unit, which has conducted 20 operations and made 77 arrests in five days.