Military Operation Targets Ecuador Prison

Security Raid at Prison:

Military Operation Targets Ecuador Prison. Ecuador’s security forces waged war on criminal gangs, raiding a Guayaquil prison where gang boss “Fito” escaped. Hundreds of soldiers and police carried out the crackdown, part of the government’s efforts amid heightened tensions. The operation follows the arrest of suspected killers in a prosecutor’s case.

Government Crackdown:

After a jailbreak, the government initiated a crackdown, provoking retaliation from criminal groups. The army shared photos of cuffed inmates, part of efforts to regain prison control. Uniformed officers now control Guayaquil’s penitentiary complex. On social media, police commander Cesar Zapata announced the arrest of two suspects linked to the prosecutor’s shooting death, seizing a rifle, two pistols, and two cars.

Prosecutor Gunned Down:

Gunmen fatally shot Prosecutor Cesar Suarez in his car in Guayaquil, a dangerous hub for cocaine export. Suarez led the investigation into the gangsters’ live-broadcast assault on a state-owned TV studio.

State of emergency:

Security forces, wary of armed inmates, stormed the Guayaquil prison without facing resistance. Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti, reporting from Colombia, stressed that despite crackdowns, criminal gangs still carry out high-profile assassinations, like the prosecutor’s killing. The government’s ongoing conflict with criminal groups is expected to persist, indicating a prolonged struggle.

Ecuador in Crisis:

xploiting Ecuador’s ports for drug trafficking, transnational cartels have plunged the symbol of peace into crisis. Consequently, President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency and imposed a nightly curfew after gang boss “Fito” escaped. In response, cartels threatened civilians and security forces, taking and later releasing dozens of hostages. Subsequently, chaos followed an attack on a TV station on January 9, leading to police arresting 13 assailants, including teenagers, after a 30-minute standoff.

Country in a state of War:

President Noboa declared a “state of war” in Ecuador, deploying thousands of soldiers and police to combat gangs, drugs, and weapons. Over the past nine days, more than 23,000 operations have been conducted, resulting in 2,174 arrests, including 158 individuals wanted for “terrorism,” as reported by the army.
Investigators targeted

Attorney General Diana Salazar named the investigation “Metastasis,” revealing links between gangs and state officials, including judges and a former prison chief. Launched after drug lord Leandro Norero’s prison death in 2022, the probe uncovered connections through Norero’s cellphone records.

Allegedly, high-ranking officials provided favors such as money, gold, prostitutes, apartments, and other luxuries. Over 900 people participated in the investigation, leading to 75 raids and numerous arrests.

Individuals investigating the gangs, including Prosecutor Cesar Suarez, have become targets due to their involvement in cases related to organized crime infiltration and corruption scandals.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Suarez probed corruption linked to medical equipment purchases. Various parts of the country witnessed the shooting of other prosecutors and a judge, indicating heightened risks for those challenging corruption and cartels.

Tragically, just weeks before last year’s elections, anti-graft and anti-cartel presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was killed. President Noboa won the elections.