Ecuador deploys troops to prison after crime boss escapes
Ecuador’s Military Descends on Prison After Escapes and Assassination
The Ecuadorian military took swift action on Thursday in response to alarming events at a major prison complex in Guayaquil. A gang boss had escaped, and a prosecutor had been allegedly assassinated, prompting the military to intervene.
Video footage released by Ecuador’s military shows hundreds of soldiers and police marching into the prison complex. Photos also depict prisoners kneeling or lying on the floor in their underwear with their hands tied. The scene was further intensified by the arrival of dozens of military vehicles.
𝑨𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒔, 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒂𝒔 𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒐 𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒐, 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒔 𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒐́𝒏 𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝑷𝑳 𝑬𝒍 𝑶𝒓𝒐 𝑵.°𝟏
El #BloqueDeSeguridad realizó un registro a las celdas del Centro de Privación de Libertad N.° 1 #ElOro y se encontró:
– 02 arma… pic.twitter.com/1YqtOD9pjW
— Ejército Ecuatoriano (@EjercitoECU) January 19, 2024
All Ecuador prison staff held hostage by inmates now free, officials say https://t.co/UMoV955Idq pic.twitter.com/Wi1ZyeNRsf
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) January 14, 2024
Last week, the notorious gang leader Adolfo Macías Villamar, also known as ”Fito,” managed to escape from the same prison complex. Fito is the leader of Los Choneros, one of Ecuador’s most dangerous gangs involved in drug trafficking to the U.S. and collaborating with Mexican cartels.
The news of Fito’s escape sparked riots in multiple jails, with prison guards being held hostage and explosives being set off in some cities. In response, the government swiftly declared a state of emergency, leading to retaliation from powerful drug cartels.
Amid the chaos, armed criminals stormed a local television station, TC Television, while it was live on air. The attackers fired guns and forced the staff to the ground. Police eventually arrived and arrested 13 individuals, including several teenagers.
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Tragically, the prosecutor leading the investigation into the television network attack was assassinated in Guayaquil. Two men allegedly connected to the assassination have since been arrested. Ecuador’s Attorney General Diana Salazar emphasized that criminal groups and terrorists will not deter their commitment to society.
The Guayaquil prison, located near Ecuador’s largest port and export hub, has become the battleground between the government and organized crime. Ecuador’s role as the world’s biggest cocaine distributor, with cartels utilizing the Guayaquil port for trafficking, adds to the gravity of the situation.
What are the underlying issues within Ecuador’s criminal justice system that need to be addressed to prevent future incidents like the one described in the article
Ter.com/Wi1ZyeNRsf
— The Japan Times (@japantimes) January 19, 2024
The operation, led by the Ecuadorian army’s Security Block, involved thorough searches of the prison cells, resulting in the discovery of weapons, drugs, and other contraband. According to Captain Jorge Lanas of the Ecuadorian army, “we have regained control of the prison and have released all prison staff who were being held hostage by the inmates.”
The events leading up to the military intervention were highly disturbing. On Wednesday, a powerful gang boss known as “El Tigre” escaped from the prison complex. It is believed that he had received assistance, as his escape involved the use of a tunnel dug from his cell. El Tigre was serving a sentence for drug trafficking and organized crime.
In addition to the escape, a prosecutor by the name of Juan Peña was allegedly assassinated within the prison complex. Peña had been investigating several high-profile criminal cases and had reportedly received multiple death threats. The circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation.
The situation inside the prison complex had deteriorated rapidly, with reports of violence and escalating tensions between different inmate factions. The military intervention was deemed necessary to restore order and ensure the safety of both inmates and prison staff.
Ecuadorian President, Luis Alberto Moreno, expressed his support for the military’s actions, stating that “we will not tolerate criminal groups undermining our justice system. The government will continue to take decisive action to combat organized crime and restore peace and order.”
This recent incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Ecuador’s criminal justice system. Overcrowded prisons, corruption, and the presence of powerful criminal organizations pose significant obstacles to maintaining security and reducing violence within the prison system. Efforts to improve prison conditions and enhance security measures need to be a top priority for the Ecuadorian government.
In conclusion, the swift military intervention in response to the escapes and alleged assassination in Ecuador’s major prison complex is a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to maintaining law and order. By regaining control of the prison and releasing the hostages, the military has taken an important step towards restoring peace and ensuring the safety of both inmates and prison staff. However, this incident also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms within the Ecuadorian criminal justice system to address the underlying issues that contribute to such incidents and to protect the rights and well-being of all individuals involved.
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