Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa issued a decree declaring a state of emergency so that the Armed Forces could intervene in prisons plunged into a spiral of violence due to the activities “narco-terrorist groups”.

“What we are experiencing is an example that things have to change in the country and that the laws we have are not enough to live in peace, so there is no room for opportunistic politicians who seek to gain credit from the security crisis. “prison,” said a statement published by the presidency on the social network X.

Noboa gave “clear and precise instructions” to both police and military commanders “so that they can intervene in the control of prisons.”

“I appeal to citizens because this fight belongs to everyone.”

This comes shortly after the Ecuadorian government’s communications minister, Roberto Izurieta, admitted that the country’s prison system had “failed” and that the head of the prison had escaped Los Choneros, Adolfo Villamar Maciasthe pseudonym “Fito” arose as a result of “penetration” into the institutions themselves.

The day before, Ecuadorian authorities confirmed the escape of “Fito” from the Guayas Regional Prison in Guayaquil, one of those involved in the recent wave of violence and instability in Ecuadorian prisons.

Ecuador’s prison system has been one of the constant sources of violence as instability in the country escalates as a result of increased armed gang activity and fighting between gangs themselves.

Drain

National Police Commander EcuadorGeneral Cesar Zapata told reporters that after the armed forces intervened in the Guayaquil prison, one of the prisoners was confirmed missing.

Although the officer did not name any names, prosecutors Ecuador announced the opening of an investigation “into the alleged escape” of prisoner José Adolfo Macias Villamar, nicknamed “Phyto‘, leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang.

Macias was sentenced to 34 years in prison for various crimes such as drug trafficking and murder.

Los Choneros are a drug trafficking cartel and criminal organization involved in extortion, murder, and drug trafficking, among other crimes. Security sources accuse her of controlling the main prisons in Ecuador.