Penal system
Prison chaos: Ecuador’s president declares a state of emergency
A helicopter flies over the fence of the Inca prison in the north of the capital. photo
© Juan Diego Montenegro/dpa
Guards as hostages and an escaped gang boss – the situation in Ecuador’s prisons has recently gotten out of control. How that should change.
Given the chaotic conditions in the prisons The government of the South American country has declared a state of emergency in Ecuador. Among other things, the right to assembly will be temporarily restricted, according to the published decree. In addition, a nighttime curfew will apply for the next 60 days.
background
Recently, criminal gangs had violent arguments in the country’s prisons and taken guards hostage. According to the prison administration, the head of the powerful gang “Los Choneros”, Adolfo Macías alias “Fito”, apparently managed to escape.
“The days when those convicted of drug trafficking, contract killings and organized crime told the government what to do are over,” President Daniel Noboa said in a speech. “We are taking back control in the prisons.” Videos showed how heavily armed soldiers and police officers entered a detention center and lined up the prisoners in their underwear on the floor of the inner courtyard.
Violence has increased dramatically in Ecuador in recent years. With around 25 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest values in Latin America was recorded in 2022. Many of the overcrowded prisons are controlled by criminal organizations and fights between gangs often occur there.