Ecuador is grappling with a surge in gang violence following the disappearance of Adolfo Macías, also known as Fito, the leader of the Los Choneros gang, from a prison in Guayaquil. The government has declared a state of emergency, with President Daniel Noboa imposing a nightly curfew and deploying 3,000 police officers and soldiers to apprehend Fito. The Choneros and other gangs are now classified as terrorist groups. The country’s escalating crime wave is attributed to drug gangs vying for trafficking routes and connections with cartels, leading to a significant increase in the murder rate. Despite the state of emergency, violent incidents, including attacks on police, a TV station, and a military truck, continue to unfold. The deteriorating security situation has exposed flaws in the penitentiary system, with prisons falling under gang control. The government, led by Noboa, seeks to address the crisis through measures such as a potential referendum on extradition and asset seizure for citizens accused of crimes abroad.

Updates on the way.