Dozens of inmates escape as Ecuador continues gang crackdown

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency last week, including a nighttime curfew and designating 22 criminal groups as terrorists.

Recent violence has included gunmen attacking a live television show, several explosions in cities and the kidnapping of prison staff in apparent response to Mr Noboa's crackdown on crime.

Ecuadorian security forces inspect an area near Zonal 8 prison, where gang leader Fito disappeared earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

SNAI said in a statement on Monday that the inmates escaped from a prison in Esmeraldas, a city near the border with Colombia, after about 2,000 members of Ecuadorian security forces conducted a search operation in the prison on Sunday.

According to the Ecuadorian government , since the state of emergency was declared, security forces have arrested more than 1,500 people and carried out 41 operations against terrorist groups and criminal gangs.

The Ecuadorian government said in a separate statement that operations would continue across Ecuador this week: “The stated objective is clear: Zero tolerance for terrorists and abusers of the population.”

President Noboa was elected late last year on a pledge to restore security. He has promised to put gang leaders in higher-security prisons, among other measures, to tackle the country's rampant violence.

Mai Van (according to Reuters, CNA)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hang-chuc-tu-nhan-vuot-nguc-khi-ecuador-tiep-tuc-tran-ap-bang-dang-post281173.html