Two clashes at a prison in southern Ecuador on Sunday resulted in at least 31 inmate deaths, with 27 victims reportedly asphyxiated. The violence began when the gang Los Lobos was attacked by Saobox, a breakaway group, leading to four fatalities and about 36 injuries. Later, in retaliation, Los Lobos suffocated 27 Saobox members in shared cells, aiming to leave no evidence of violence.
Interior Minister John Reinberg indicated that rival gangs shared cells because they were once part of the same group before Saobox’s split over management issues. The initial clash was reportedly provoked by the upcoming transfer of prisoners to a new maximum security facility.
Ecuador’s prisons have witnessed extreme violence, with over 500 inmate deaths since 2021. While military and police forces are present, the ongoing state of internal conflict declared in January 2024 has failed to curb issues within the prison system. Additionally, the U.S. plans to designate Los Lobos as a foreign terrorist organization to facilitate cooperation in tackling these criminal challenges.
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