Three police officers and a soldier were kidnapped in Ecuador after violent clashes at a prison in Guayaquil. The situation comes amid a bloody war between gangs that culminated in the Ecuadorian government declaring a state of emergency.
These kidnappings are not the only ones in the country. Another police officer was also captured while on duty in Quito. This wave of violence is attracting global attention. The Ecuadorian police issued a statement on their social networks assuring that “none of these events will go unpunished.”
The state of emergency in Ecuador: what does it mean?
The state of emergency in Ecuador allows the armed forces to support the police. This is justified by the serious situation in the country. During the 60 days that the state of emergency is in effect, some rights will be restricted. These include the right to travel with the imposition of a curfew between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., the right to assembly and the right to privacy at home and to correspond.
The infamous prison escape in the middle of the crisis
The rising tensions are exacerbated by the escape of one of the country's most dangerous criminals, José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as Fito. Fito is one of the leaders of the group Los Choneros and his absence was noticed in the prison where he was serving his sentence.
Despite the efforts of more than 3,000 army and police officers to find him, Fito's whereabouts remain unknown to this day. Initially, Los Choneros were a group of hired killers who expanded their activities into drug trafficking and robberies. They are also considered to be the first in Ecuador to join a foreign group, in this case the Sinaloa Cartel from Mexico.
The current crisis in Ecuador highlights the urgent need for tighter security measures and reform of the prison system to curb violence and organized crime. This challenge tests the Ecuadorian government's ability to maintain order and security at a delicate time for the country.