Ecuador declared a 60-day state of emergency on Monday, January 8th after the high-profile gang leader, Adolfo “Fito” Macías, vanished from his prison, sparking an onslaught of violent attacks. An assortment of drug gangs and criminals wreaked havoc across the country,  starting prison riots, kidnapping police, storming a live TV news station, and setting off bombs around Ecuador. 

The chaos peaked on Tuesday when dozens of masked and armed gang members entered and took over a news broadcast from TC Televisión, taking multiple hostages in the process. The situation ended when police surrounded the building, eventually forcing all 13 perpetrators to surrender. The hostages were all rescued, with only two having suffered injuries. By the end of the day, at least 11 people across Ecuador had died as a result of the attacks. 

After Macías’ escape, Ecuador’s penitentiary service reported six incidents taking place within prisons, including “riots” that resulted in prisoners taking 178 prison guards and staff hostage. As a result, another high-profile gang leader, Fabricio Colón Pico, escaped from his prison in Riobamba. The prison system in Ecuador has been compromised for a while, with the New York Times estimating that about a fourth of Ecuador’s 36 prisons are under the control of gangs. 

Following these events, the Ecuadorian president, Daniel Noboa, declared “internal armed conflict” and deployed more than 3,000 armed forces and police into Guayaquil, Quito, and other affected areas. As a result, the streets filled with soldiers, tanks, and heavily armed police as they attempted to de-escalate the situation and neutralize the attackers.

On Wednesday, the commander of Ecuador’s armed forces, Jaime Vela Erazo, said that since Noboa declared internal armed conflict, five gang members had been killed, with another 329 arrested.

“We will not back down or negotiate,’’ Erazo said in a statement. “Good, justice, and order cannot ask for permission or bow their heads to terrorists.”

Macías leads Los Choneros, one of the two largest drug syndicates in Ecuador. He was also suspected of assassinating the presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, who said that Macías threatened him before he was killed. The other escaped gang leader, Fabricio Colón Pico, leads Los Lobos, which is the other largest drug syndicate in Ecuador.

Drug-fueled gang violence has been a common issue throughout South American countries like Colombia, Chile, Peru, and most recently Ecuador. There’s no doubt that the gangs have an immense amount of power; even so much that they’re able to assassinate presidential candidates and use prisons as their headquarters. These criminal empires have become so entrenched in South America that most governments refuse to push back or even address the issue. The Ecuadorian government has taken the first major step against organized crime in South America, hopefully motivating others to do the same. 

Another common topic concerning gang violence is the incompetence or corruption of government officials and authority. For example, a guard who escaped the riots said authorities had not listened when he warned them that something bad was going to happen in the prison. Furthermore, Ecuador’s attorney general cracked down on corruption last month, raiding the homes of dozens of judges, prosecutors, and police that had links to the gangs. 

The recent events in Ecuador have received mixed feedback from the Ecuadorian populace, with some concerned that the government’s drastic response could indicate a future where the military will continue to roam the streets as a “security force”. Most fear that the increased military presence may incite more conflict, rather than resolve the disorder.

Others are elated that the government has finally taken action against Ecuador’s massive criminal empire. For it to be effective, Noboa’s response to the gangs and corruption must be viewed as an attack on terror, not an extension of the military’s power. Regardless of differing opinions, the people cheered as soldiers marched down the streets, ushering in a much-needed sense of security after the dreadful events of the past few days.

Unfortunately, the situation in Ecuador has not stilled as of February 15th, 2024. Ecuadorian citizens still fear for their safety and the widespread violence has continued, despite government efforts to ensure peace.