The European Union and Ecuadorian authorities have launched Alerta Anónima (alertaanonima.com), a secure reporting website, alongside a communication strategy to strengthen a culture of reporting in the port ecosystem and logistics chain, aiming to prevent contamination and enhance security. The initiative, presented on 31 July 2026 in Quito, is part of the EUFORT-EC project, co-financed by the EU and France and implemented by Expertise France, which seeks to reduce illicit drug flows between Ecuador and Europe.
The event brought together representatives from Ecuador's Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of the Interior, the EU Delegation to Ecuador, the National Police, port security stakeholders, and the EUFORT-EC project team. During the presentation, officials highlighted key challenges to building a safe reporting culture, including fear of reprisals, institutional distrust, and confusion caused by multiple reporting channels. The communication strategy is designed to protect informants, simplify the use of available mechanisms, and ensure progressive, segmented, and controlled dissemination across institutional, workplace, and operational settings.
Alerta Anónima allows users to report without creating an account or providing personal data. It uses encrypted transmission, does not store IP addresses, employs no cookies, and strips metadata from attached files. Information is managed under confidentiality, anonymity, and need-to-know principles. The platform is not a substitute for emergency channels; for immediate assistance, users are directed to 9-1-1, line 131, or 1800-DELITO. The campaign's unifying message is: “A safe port is built by all of us.”
The EUFORT-EC project, with a budget of €2.1 million and an 18-month duration, has two main components: establishing and equipping a National Intelligence and Coordination Center (Fusion Center) with specialized units from Ecuadorian security institutions, and strengthening port security in the Guayaquil bay to reduce drug trafficking to Europe. Alerta Anónima and the communication strategy are complementary tools developed under the second component.
The initiative impacts port workers, transporters, logistics operators, warehouse and yard staff, and security managers, who are the primary users of the reporting platform and the target of awareness campaigns. For the EU and Ecuadorian authorities, the tools aim to improve information sharing and early warning capabilities, potentially reducing drug flows and enhancing security. However, the effectiveness of the platform will depend on building trust among potential informants and ensuring that reports are acted upon, which remains a challenge given the identified fears and institutional skepticism. The project also represents a modest but concrete step in EU-Ecuador cooperation on security, with no immediate regulatory or economic consequences for broader stakeholders.