A violent disturbance at a prison in Ecuador has resulted in the deaths of at least 17 individuals, some of whom were decapitated during the chaos.
The incident occurred in Esmeraldas, near the border with Colombia, where drug gangs are engaged in fierce battles. Disturbing images circulating on social media depicted lifeless inmates lying on the ground, their bodies covered in blood. Following the escalation of the death toll from 10 to 17, distraught family members of the prisoners hurried to the SNAI prison for information.
Anxious relatives anxiously awaited news outside the prison, with one woman recounting her frantic rush to the scene upon hearing gunshots and screams. Upon arrival, soldiers directed her to the morgue to determine the fate of her loved one.
Authorities have warned that the number of casualties may increase as they retrieve bodies from the prison. According to reports from CNN, the violence was instigated by the organized crime group Los Tiguerones, who ordered the elimination of rival gangs and unaffiliated prisoners.
This unrest follows a separate incident in which 13 inmates and a guard were killed in another part of the country, where explosives were reportedly used to facilitate escapes. The ongoing violence adds to a grim statistic of approximately 500 prisoners who have been killed in Ecuador since 2021.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Daniel Noboa has called for international assistance from the US, European, and Brazilian military forces to combat criminal organizations and drug trafficking. Noboa emphasized the need for a stronger military presence to tackle the drug trade, citing Ecuador’s significant role in global cocaine distribution.
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