National Prisons Agency Commended for Swift Action; President Applauds Armed Forces and Police

In a tense turn of events, all prison staff members held hostage by inmates across various correctional facilities in Ecuador have been successfully freed, according to the national prisons agency, SNAI. The agency, however, did not disclose the exact number of individuals released, emphasizing that those freed are undergoing medical evaluations.

The situation escalated earlier, with SNAI reporting that 133 guards and three administrative employees were initially held captive, and at least 41 had been released prior to the complete resolution of the crisis. Unfortunately, one prison guard lost their life, and another sustained injuries during an armed confrontation at a prison in the southern region of El Oro.

President Daniel Noboa expressed relief at the news of the hostages’ release, extending gratitude to SNAI, the armed forces, and the national police for their efforts in securing the freedom of the captives.

The hostage crisis unfolded amid a surge in violence throughout the country, marked by explosions, kidnappings of police officers, and a recent attack on a live television broadcast. Masked gunmen armed with explosives stormed the set, resulting in injuries and heightening fears among the Ecuadorian population.

Former President Rafael Correa described the current situation as a “real nightmare” for the country, once known as an “island of peace” in the region.

The immediate trigger for the recent wave of violence was the escape of Adolfo “Fito” Macías, the leader of the notorious gang Los Choneros, from a prison in Guayaquil. Los Choneros, linked to maritime drug trafficking to Mexico and the United States, collaborates with the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico and the Oliver Sinisterra Front in Colombia.

Fito, sentenced to 34 years in prison in 2011 for crimes including drug trafficking and murder, continues to elude authorities. In response to his escape, a state of emergency was declared, and over 3,000 police officers and armed forces members have been deployed in the search.

Ecuador, renowned for the Galapagos Islands and its tourist-friendly economy, now grapples with growing instability. Overcrowded prisons have become breeding grounds for criminal activities, with inmates often taking control and running networks from behind bars.

As the search for Fito intensifies, Ecuador faces a critical juncture, navigating both internal prison challenges and external threats to public safety.