Ecuador's already precarious security situation took a dangerous turn on August 31 as a series of car bombings and hostage-takings rattled the nation. The incidents occurred just weeks after the shocking assassination of a prominent presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, and have highlighted the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining law and order.
The Ecuadorian National Police reported that there were no immediate injuries resulting from the four explosions that rocked Quito, the capital, and a province bordering Peru. Interior Minister Juan Zapata also confirmed that none of the more than 50 law enforcement officers taken hostage in six different prisons across the country had been harmed during the incidents.
Authorities believe that these brazen actions are the retaliation of criminal groups against measures taken by the country's corrections system, including the relocation of inmates. This wave of violence comes just three weeks after the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, who had a reputation for his tough stance on organized crime and corruption.
The Ecuadorian corrections system, known as the National Service for Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty, has faced significant challenges in recent years, losing control of several large prisons that have become hotbeds of violent riots resulting in numerous deaths. To address gang-related disputes, the system has resorted to transferring inmates between facilities.
In Quito, the first bomb detonated on August 30 night at a location previously occupied by the corrections system's office. The second explosion occurred early August 31 outside the agency's current office. General Pablo Ramírez, the national director of anti-drug investigations, revealed that gas cylinders, fuel, fuses, and blocks of dynamite were discovered at the crime scenes in Quito. Gas tanks were also used in the explosions that occurred in the El Oro communities of Casacay and Bella India.
A concerning development occurred in the city of Cuenca, where one of the prisons housing hostages is located. The local fire department reported that an explosive device detonated on August 31 night, causing damage to a vehicle, though no further details were provided.
Interior Minister Juan Zapata disclosed that seven of the hostages are police officers, while the rest are prison guards. In a video shared on social media and confirmed as authentic by Zapata, Lieutenant Alonso Quintana, a police officer held captive, implored authorities "not to make decisions that violate the rights of persons deprived of their liberty." He revealed that around 30 people were being held by the inmates.
The surge in violence over the past three years in Ecuador is largely attributed to a power vacuum created by the killing of Jorge Zambrano, alias "Rasquiña" or "JL," the leader of the local Los Choneros gang, in 2020. These criminal groups are engaged in contract killings, extortion, drug trafficking, and territorial disputes, including within detention facilities, where at least 400 inmates have lost their lives since 2021.
Fernando Villavicencio, the slain presidential candidate, had taken a hardline stance against organized crime and corruption. He was assassinated on August 9 at the conclusion of a political rally in Quito, despite having a security detail that included police and bodyguards. Villavicencio had accused Los Choneros and their imprisoned leader, Adolfo Macías, alias "Fito," of threatening him and his campaign team in the days leading up to his murder.
Ecuador's Security Secretary, Wagner Bravo, revealed that six of the prisoners who were recently relocated may have been involved in Villavicencio's killing. The mayor of Quito, Pabel Muñoz, expressed the hope for swift and honest justice while emphasizing the need for peace, calm, and security among citizens.
“We are not going to give up. May peace, calm, and security prevail among the citizens,” Muñoz stated.
Ecuador's National Police recorded 3,568 violent deaths in the first six months of this year, a significant increase from the 2,042 reported during the same period in 2022. The year concluded with a staggering 4,600 instances of violent fatalities, marking the highest number in the nation's recorded history and a twofold increase compared to the previous year's total of 2021.
The alarming rise in violence is a cause for concern, especially in cities like Guayaquil and Esmeraldas, which are considered some of the most dangerous areas in the country. Recently, authorities reported the burning of six government vehicles in Esmeraldas, further highlighting the grave security challenges Ecuador faces.
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