New surveys shows Ecuador as one of five safest countries in Latin America

In a new crime survey Ecuador ranks as one of the safest countries in Latin America. The 2014 Latin American Security Index ranks Ecuador only behind Costa Rica, Uruguay, Chile and Panama for serious crimes.

The most dangerous countries in Latin America, according to the survey, conducted annual by FTE Consulting of Florida, are Venezuela, Honduras, Guatamala, Haiti and Mexico.

The FTE survey is used by businesses who are considering locating or expanding in Latin America.

The FTE rating highlights the fact that drug-related organized crime and extreme violence, and the movement of drugs from production to consumer markets, continues to be a major source of public insecurity in parts of Central America and Mexico, as well as in Colombia. The report says that insecurity continues to demand significant resources from the business community to protect its assets and has a corrosive effect on the region’s competitiveness in the fight to attract investment.