Sao Paulo
All those taken hostage by criminal groups in prisons have been taken to prison, according to the agency that manages the country's penal institutions, the National Service for Comprehensive Assistance to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Juvenile Offenders (SNAI). released early this Sunday (14th).
The hostages were mostly members of the prison staff, but there were also administrative employees. On Thursday (11), the prison authorities registered 178 hostages.
According to the SNAI, the dismissed employees will undergo medical examinations. The statement also said that investigations will be launched to determine the causes and those responsible for the actions that affected prisons in the country. The work was carried out jointly by the National Police and the Armed Forces of Ecuador.
The release of three of the hostages was announced on Friday (12). On Saturday evening (13), the SNAI reported the release of 24 prison guards and 17 administrative employees, according to Agence FrancePresse (AFP).
In addition, the death of a guard in clashes with prisoners was announced this Saturday in El Oro, in the southwest of the country, on the border with Peru, bringing the death toll in the current crisis to 19, including civilians, prison guards, police and prisoners. .
Criminal groups have a large presence in prisons in Ecuador, which is experiencing one of the largest public security crises. The epicenter of the worsening crisis is the port city of Guayaquil, the scene of the country's drug trade. The place was put on alert after at least six inmates escaped from the prison on Friday evening (12).
The current crisis began last Sunday (7) when the leader of the Los Choneros faction, which is triggering the current state of emergency in the country, escaped from prison. Fito was sentenced to 34 years in prison for various crimes, including drug trafficking and murder. He has not yet been found, but early indications suggest he may be in neighboring Colombia.