It is almost two months since Daniel Noboa, Ecuador’s president, declared war on the country’s gangs. Since then, there have been scores of arrests. 

People are living under curfew and the streets have been militarised. 

For this special documentary, The Telegraph went to Esmeraldas on the country’s coast, one of the most dangerous cities in Latin America.

It is home to Los Tigarones, Los Tigres or The Tigers, one of the country’s biggest gangs. 

We have come to meet their members, some who are not yet even teenagers. 

These are the gangsters that the president now says are terrorists.

“What’s the best thing about being in the gang?” we ask a 12-year-old boy, who agreed to speak to us on condition of anonymity.

“Killing,” he says. “Especially people who call the police: los zapos [the toads]. They deserve to die.”

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