A new escape of at least six people from the Litoral prison in Guayaquil. the largest and most populous in Ecuadorand violent incidents in Turi and Machala prisons add a new chapter to Ecuador's security crisis.
On the night of January 12th Six inmates escaped from the Litoral prisonaround 9:53 p.m. According to a police report compiled by the Ecuadorian press, the prisoners escaped through the back of the prison.
The police reported the incident seven minutes later and, in coordination with the armed forces, announced an operation that made this possible the capture of two of the escapees. The National Service for Comprehensive Care to Adults Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI, its acronym) has not released any official information on this matter.
The prison riots don't stop. Several people living near the Turi prisons in Cuenca and Machala have reported early morning incidents of hearing explosions and bangs. Videos of whistles and screams that would be consistent with Turi prison were published on social networks. Meanwhile, screams pleading for peace could be heard in footage from Machala Prison gunshot-like explosions.
On Friday evening, the military found a dead inmate while inspecting the outside of the prison in the town of Machala 16 prison guards remain imprisoned of mutinous prisoners.
There has been a security crisis in Ecuador since January 8, 2024, with 170 people kidnapped in seven prisons in the country. On Friday, five more hostages were released in the Turi prison in Cuenca and in Cañar.
Ecuadorian police reported on Saturday the release of two of their agents from the unit in the town of Pasaje, in the coastal province of El Oro, on the border with Peru, who were kidnapped by organized crime groups earlier this week.
“Following investigative work and search protocols, special forces carried out several raids, which made it possible to locate the place of captivity where the release of the police officers was achieved and to take them into custody,” the police said, further explaining the statement that They would “continue police operations until those responsible for this crime are found.”