Ecuadorian authorities announce detainment of over 1,000 people in crackdown on criminal groups
The Ecuadorian government has detained at least 1,105 individuals following President Daniel Noboa’s declaration of an internal armed conflict aimed at repressing violent criminal groups, the president’s office announced on Saturday.
According to the presidency, 125 of those detained were accused of terrorism, and five people described as “terrorists” died in the crackdown.
From January 9 to 13, authorities also dismantled at least 28 criminal organizations, seized over 750 firearms and explosives, and recaptured 27 prison escapees.
On Saturday night, the Armed Forces and the National Police successfully liberated all members of Ecuador’s penitentiary security force who had been held hostage in prisons by inmates, reported the country’s penitentiary agency, SNAI.
The unrest in Ecuador was sparked by the escape of known drug gang leader Adolfo “Fito” Macías from a Guayaquil prison. While officials did not provide the exact date and time of the escape, they deployed thousands of security forces in efforts to locate him.