Cartel Storms TV Station, Pandemonium On Streets: What’s Happening In Ecuador

The world has witnessed the most dangerous event where a live broadcast by Ecuadorean television station TC was interrupted by balaclava-clad gunmen, on Tuesday. It has been marked to be the most dramatic recent example of a renewed explosion of violence in the previously tranquil South American country. The rising crime that stymied his predecessor has been pledged to be addressed by the new president, Daniel Noboa, but he faces an uphill battle amid gang control of prisons, kidnappings of police, and bombings.

Ecuador Security Deteriorated: Is that a factor?

It all began during the coronavirus pandemic, which also brutally battered the economy, after which the security in Ecuador has been worsening. The government has reported a rise in violent deaths nationally to 8,008 in 2023, nearly double the 2022 figure of over 4,500, according to the US News.

The presidential contest last year was marred by the assassination of an anti-corruption candidate. The situation is blamed on the growing reach of cocaine-trafficking gangs, who have destabilized swathes of the continent, according to the government. Inside Ecuador's prisons, gangs have taken advantage of the state's weak control to expand their power.

Further, prison violence has become increasingly common, resulting in hundreds of deaths in incidents authorities have blamed on gang battles to control the jails. Guayaquil, considered the country's most dangerous city, with its ports being a hub for drug smuggling, has witnessed this rise in violence.

In November, Noboa took office and touted his "Phoenix Plan" for security, including a new intelligence unit, tactical weapons for security forces, new high-security prisons, and reinforced security at ports and airports. He mentioned that it would cost some $800 million, with the United States providing $200 million in new weapons for the army.

What is the cause of this week's flare-up of violence?

The police officials have reported that Adolfo Macias, the leader of the Los Choneros criminal gang, had disappeared from the prison where he was serving a 34-year sentence, on Sunday. The authorities are making efforts to track him down. Meanwhile, incidents of violence in at least six prisons were initiated on Monday, resulting in 150 or more guards and other staff being taken hostage by prisoners, as per multiple US Media reports. In Riobamba, a prison experienced 39 inmates escaping, although some have been recaptured, reported The Guardian.

As the violence in Ecuador continued it spread to the streets, on Tuesday. Around seven police officers were kidnapped in incidents across the country and five explosions were confirmed in various cities, albeit without any reported injuries. Noboa, who has declared a stance of not negotiating with "terrorists," has attributed the violence to his government's plans to construct a new high-security prison for incarcerated gang leaders.

Who is Macías?

Macías, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, considered one of the most powerful in Ecuador with alleged ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, was serving a 34-year prison sentence. He had previously escaped for several weeks in 2013 and reportedly received a tip-off shortly before his scheduled transfer to a maximum-security facility.

Macías had been residing in a spacious cell adorned with murals and featured in a music video, 'The Lion's Ballad,' where he was seen relaxing in the prison courtyard and caressing a fighting cockerel, reported the Guardian. This showcased the influence wielded by such kingpins even while incarcerated.

The recent surge in violence, following Macías's escape, has taken people by surprise, and whether it is coordinated or involves different gangs remains uncertain. President Noboa recently declared 22 gangs as classified terrorist groups, indicating a collective fight against the Ecuadorian state rather than internal gang conflicts.

How strong are gangs in Ecuador?

The murder rate in Ecuador has surged almost 500% since 2016, with 80% of the killings attributed to gangs, according to Crisis Group, as reported by police. Even by Latin American standards, this represents one of the highest rates globally, according to Gaurdian.

Beheadings, public hangings, and police assassinations, frequently described in local news reports, illustrate the intense rivalry among gangs competing for control of the drug trade. The increase in gang violence is linked to the 2020 killing of the previous leader of Los Choneros, Jorge Zambrano, sparking a struggle for dominance over drug-trafficking routes and territory.

Since 2021, at least 400 prison inmates have lost their lives. Meanwhile, cartels from distant locations such as Mexico and Albania are seeking a share of the Ecuadorian drug trade, financing local operations. At the heart of the chaos is the export of cocaine, a significant source of wealth for Ecuador's gangs due to increased cultivation in neighbouring Colombia and years of lax policing.

What's the government's plan to tackle the crisis?

• A 60-day state of emergency was declared by Noboa on Monday, utilizing a tool previously employed with little success by his predecessor Guillermo Lasso. This declaration enabled military patrols, including in prisons, and the implementation of a national nighttime curfew.
• In an updated decree published on Tuesday afternoon, the recognition of an "internal armed conflict" in Ecuador was declared by Noboa. Furthermore, several criminal gangs, including Los Choneros, were identified as terrorist groups. The decree specifically ordered the armed forces to neutralize these groups.
• Despite Noboa's coalition having a majority in the national assembly, there are queries from some Ecuadoreans regarding why harsher measures against gangs are not being taken by the president.
• A security-focused plebiscite is planned by Noboa later this year, intending to ask the public about undoing a ban on the extradition of Ecuadoreans wanted abroad and allowing asset seizures from suspected criminals.