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Kidnappings of police officers, escape of two bosses from prison, riots in prisons and attacks with explosives in the streets: the drug trafficker puts the president in check Ecuador, Daniel Noboain its first crisis after taking power in November.
For two days, the South American country has been experiencing nights of terror. Seven police officers were kidnapped in the middle of state of emergency ordered by the government on Monday in the face of an outbreak of violence linked to drug trafficking.
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“These are extremely difficult days because (…) the important decision is to face these threats with terrorist characteristics head on”, assured the Secretary of Communication of government, Roberto Izurietain an interview with the digital channel Visionarias.
The escape from prison of Adolfo Macías, aka “Fito”, leader of the main criminal gang known as The Chonerosdetonated the crisis the Sunday. This Tuesday, authorities reported of escape from another leader drug trafficker: Fabricio Colón Pico, one of the leaders of The Wolves, arrested on Friday for his alleged responsibility in a plot to assassinate the attorney general.
According to authorities, seven police officers were kidnapped in Machala (south-west), Quito and in the province of Los Ríos (southwest). Explosions were also reported against a police station, the house of President from the National Court and burned vehicles. There are no reports of deaths or injuries.
Noboa36 years old, is the President youngest of Ecuador and who came to power with the promise of attacking groups of drug traffickers linked to Colombian and Mexican cartels with a strong hand.
In an unverified video posted on social media, three officers appear sitting on the ground. One of them is required to read a message addressed to the President: “You declared war and you will wage war (…) You declared a state of exception; We declare spoils of war to the police, civilians and the military. Anyone found on the streets after eleven at night will be executed”.
The state of emergency applies for 60 days across the country, including prisons. The measure includes a six-hour curfew, between 11pm and 5am. (04H00 and 10H00 GMT).
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“We will not negotiate”
Police and military have been carrying out searches since Sunday Phytowho was serving a 34-year prison sentence Guayaquil Region (southwest) for organized crime, drug trafficking and homicide. The Choneros routes are disputed with twenty other gangs of drug trafficking in a war that bleeds the country.
O Prosecutor’s office accused two prison officials for their alleged responsibility in the escape of 44-year-old criminal, graduated in Law in prison.
The presidential headquarters and stations of Quito subways are militarized.
The declaration of emergency allows the Armed Forces to intervene in the prison system, where on Monday an undetermined number of guards were retained, without the body that manages it (SNAI) will indicate whether they have been released.
“We will not negotiate with terrorists nor will we rest until we return peace to the Ecuadorians“Noboa warned on video via her Instagram account.
The ruler assigned start in prisons as retaliation for their actions to “take back control” prision guard.
Noboa announced last week that it will build two maximum security prisons in the provinces of Pasta (that’s it Saint Helen (southwest), in the style of those built by the President Salvadoran Nayib Bukele in their war against gangs.
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“Unprecedented” crisis
The kidnappings of police officers added to the violent acts on the coast Emeralds (northwest and close to the border with Colombia), one of the Ecuadorian provinces controlled by mafias.
Several people threw an explosive device near a police station and two vehicles They were burned in other places, without leaving any victims.
In Quito, a car explosion and a device explosion near a walkway were also reported. Your mayor, Pabel Muñozasked the Executive to “militarization”of strategic installations before“crisis of unprecedented security.”
Located in the middle of Colombia It is Peruthe world’s largest producers of cocaine, Ecuador went from an island of peace to a fortress of war of drug trafficker. 2023 closed with more than 7,800 homicides and 220 tons of drugs seized, new records in the country of 17 million inhabitants.
Since 2021, clashes between prisoners have left more than 460 dead. Furthermore, the homicides on the streets between 2018 and 2023 grew by almost 800%, from 6 to 46 per 100 thousand inhabitants.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
