Ecuador’s Rioting Prison: Inside the Battle Against Organized Crime Gangs

In a tragic incident, three inmates have lost their lives and six others have been injured in a riot that took place at the Regional Prison of Guayaquil in Ecuador. The government has declared a state of emergency due to an “internal armed conflict” against organized crime gangs. This comes as the National Service of Comprehensive Attention to Persons Deprived of Liberty (SNAI) confirmed the number of deceased prisoners and injured individuals after the riot.

The disturbances within the prison began late at night, with explosions and fires caused by inmates burning mattresses. It took the police and armed forces around four hours to regain control of the prison, which is part of a larger complex housing around 12,000 prisoners. The inmates were reportedly protesting the treatment by the military during the militarization of Ecuadorian prisons under the state of emergency.

The Guayaquil Regional Prison has been a frequent target of operations to seize weapons and prohibited items from the prison population. The prison complex has a history of gang control and extortion among the inmates, leading to unrest and violence. There have been reports of human rights violations by the Armed Forces during this period.

The situation in the prison system remains tense, with ongoing efforts to address internal conflicts and improve conditions for the inmates. Human rights organizations and relatives