People killed by police and military forces since then Ecuador An “internal armed conflict” against organized crime was declared, numbering 12 cases, which authorities described as “terrorists“.

This is stated in the latest report published by the Ecuadorian government on the police and military operations carried out during 50 days of emergency and which began on January 9 in response to a wave of attacks and violent acts attributed to criminal gangs.

The latest of these occurred on Monday evening in the port city of Guayaquil, in shots exchanged between alleged criminals and policewhere, apparently, an attempt to kidnap a citizen was stopped.

During a state of emergency also three police officers are believed to be killedat least two of them during the events of January 9, including the kidnapping of agents, the seizure of the channel TK Television an armed group during a live broadcast and simultaneous riots in various prisons, during which about 200 hostages were freed.

The number of arrests during operations due to the “internal armed conflict” reached 10,569, of which 268 people were detained on suspicion of “terrorism”, however, the same report indicates that more than 64 tons of drugs were seized.

Until now the security forces They conducted more than 132 thousand joint operations. (more than 2,600 every day), 179 of them against criminal groups that the authorities now call terrorists.

Except, 3,371 firearms were seized.more than 20 thousand explosives, more than 215 thousand bullets, 1378 bullet magazines and more than 4 thousand 200 knives.

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Agents too 979 cars were seized from criminals, 1,188 motorcycles and 28 boats, including a semi-submersible for transporting drugs; in addition to about $262,000 in cash.

In statistics the figure 34 prisoners releasedof almost 90 escaped from prisons, where several prisoner riots occurred earlier in the year, during which 200 hostages, including guards and police, were freed.

After declaring an “internal armed conflict”, the government of President Daniel Noboa identified at least 22 transnational organized crime groups and defined them as “terrorist organizations” and “militant non-state actors.”

Calling these groups non-state belligerents, President opened the legal door for the Armed Forces Together with the police, use all your resources to neutralize them.

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The spiral of violence in Ecuador unfolded as the government prepared to unleash its “iron fist” policy on prisons, many of which were dominated internally by gangs of criminals whose rivalry More than 450 prisoners have been killed since 2020 in a series of prison murders.

In recent years, violence in prisons has also spilled onto the streets, while… turn Ecuador into one of the most violent countriesMoreover, in 2023 there will be 45 intentional murders per 100 thousand inhabitants. (EFE)