State of emergency had been declared: Operation against gang members in Ecuador! Hundreds detained

Jaime Vela, Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Ecuador, announced at a press conference that they had detained 329 gang members and killed 5 gang members in operations conducted across the country.

2 POLICE OFFICERS LOST THEIR LIVES

Stating that 2 police officers lost their lives and 1 police officer was seriously injured in the operations, Vela announced that 139 prison guards are still being held hostage in 5 prisons where riots broke out.

Vela said that 41 law enforcement officers who were forcibly held by gang members have been rescued and that they have captured 28 prisoners who escaped from prison.

Expressing that their priority in the operations is the gangs named "Tiguerones," "Los Lobos," and "Los Choneros," Vela noted that they have seized 61 weapons in the last 2 days.

Recalling the gang leader Adolfo Macias Salazar, nicknamed "Fito," who escaped from prison, Vela said, "We have established a special unit to capture him. We ask the people of Ecuador to trust us and be patient."

Members of organized crime groups had rioted in 5 prisons on January 8 and taken 139 guards hostage.

RAID ON TV CHANNEL AND UNIVERSITY

The studio of the channel "TC Television" in the city of Guayaquil was raided by armed individuals during a live broadcast yesterday, and employees were taken hostage.

Simultaneously, armed individuals attacking a university in Guayaquil forcibly held some students.

As a result of the intervention by security forces, 13 people who raided the live broadcast were detained, and control was established at the university.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa stated in his announcement yesterday that they had declared a "State of Internal Armed Conflict" and used the expression, "I have given instructions to the armed forces to neutralize the gangs."

10 civilians lost their lives as a result of gang attacks in different parts of the city of Guayaquil.

STATE OF EMERGENCY HAD BEEN DECLARED

The Ecuadorian government, which has been struggling with a security crisis across the country for some time, declared a 60-day state of emergency (OHAL) on January 9 following the escape of gang leader Adolfo Macias Salazar, nicknamed "Fito," and several other inmates from a prison in the city of Guayas, and subsequent bomb attacks on police vehicles.

It was announced that a curfew would be implemented between 23:00 and 05:00 within the scope of the state of emergency.

Following the state of emergency decision, criminal organizations kidnapped numerous police officers and set vehicles on fire.

On the other hand, in videos shared on social media, police officers were seen with guns held to their heads after being kidnapped by gang members, pleading for help from President Noboa.

News Source: AA