President of Ecuador announced country's engagement in war against drug trafficking groups
President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa (photo: facebook Daniel Noboa)
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa announced that his country is in a state of war against drug trafficking groups, according to Reuters.
The country's leader identified 22 criminal gangs responsible for uprisings in Ecuador, branding them as terrorist organizations and designating them as official military targets.
"We are at war and we cannot cede in the face of these terrorist groups," said Noboa.
He estimated that around 20,000 members of criminal groups operate in the country.
Jaime Vela, the commander of Ecuador's Armed Forces, stated that approximately 329 individuals, mostly members of the Los Choneros, Los Lobos, and Los Tiguerones gangs, have been arrested since the declaration of the state of emergency in the country.
The government claimed that the recent surge in violence is a response to the president's plan to build new maximum-security prisons for gang leaders. Noboa announced that the plans for two new facilities would be unveiled this week.
Situation in Ecuador
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency following the escape from prison of one of the country's most notorious drug gang leaders, Adolfo Masis. The leader of the Los Choneros gang was serving a 34-year sentence at La Regional prison for drug trafficking and murder.
The escape occurred on the same day when the gang leader was supposed to be transferred to a maximum-security prison in the city of Guayaquil. Subsequently, the country witnessed armed attacks, including the takeover of the local TV channel TC Television.
For more details on the situation in Ecuador, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
