Clashes between rival drug gangs in Ecuador have resulted in at least 17 deaths in a violent prison riot at Esmeraldas, near the Colombian border. The violence led to the discovery of ten decapitated bodies and prompted desperate families to gather outside the prison seeking news. Authorities confirmed that chaos erupted between two major gangs, Los Ceneros and Los Lobos, both involved in drug trafficking.
Ecuador has seen escalating violence linked to organized crime, with its prisons earning a reputation as some of the world’s most dangerous. The nation, a key transit point for cocaine from Colombia and Peru, has experienced significant gang warfare, leading to a state of “internal armed conflict” declared by President Daniel Novore in 2024. Prison staff have also been targeted, with previous incidents involving high-profile attacks and hostage situations.
The situation underscores the broader issues of drug trafficking and violence in Ecuador, where over 70% of the world’s cocaine passes through its ports.
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