Ecuador plunged has into chaos as President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency on Monday following the daring escape of notorious drug lord Jose Adolfo Macias, known as “Fito,” from high-security detention.
The violence-stricken country announced a 60-day mobilization of soldiers on the streets and in prisons, accompanied by a nightly curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am.
In an Instagram video, President Noboa vowed to combat “narco-terrorists,” stating that the state of emergency provides the armed forces with “all the political and legal support” to quell the unrest.
He affirmed that Ecuador would not negotiate with terrorists and promised relentless efforts to restore peace.
Fito, the leader of the powerful Los Choneros gang, escaped during a prison inspection in Guayaquil, with suspicions of inside information aiding his evasion.
Presidency spokesman, Roberto Izurieta criticized the prison system, citing a failure and lamenting the infiltration of criminal groups.
The prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation and charged two prison officials allegedly involved in Fito’s escape.
The gang leader, serving a 34-year sentence since 2011 for organized crime, drug trafficking, and murder, previously escaped in 2013 before recapture.
Despite being transferred to a maximum-security prison last August, violence has surged in Ecuador’s prisons, turning them into battlegrounds for rival gangs with links to Mexican and Colombian cartels.
Fito’s escape triggered unrest in multiple provinces, with guards held hostage, prompting a swift response from heavily armed police and soldiers.
The country, once a peaceful haven, has experienced escalating violence in recent years, with over 460 inmates killed since 2021.
Fito, described as a “criminal with extremely dangerous characteristics,” continues to evade capture, intensifying the search as the nation grapples with a dire state of emergency.
Credit: AFP
