Under the cover of Friday night, five inmates executed a daring escape from the vast Guayaquil prison complex in Ecuador, setting off a widespread search operation, which swiftly led to the apprehension of two of the fleeing prisoners.
Two helicopters and drones took to the skies shortly after the inmates’ escape, crisscrossing the northern perimeters of the massive prison complex as part of an intensive aerial mission to locate the fugitives.
Armed with powerful searchlights focused on the terrain, law enforcement at the scene worked diligently to locate the fleeing inmates, ultimately succeeding in the recapture of two of them.
Both authorities and the prison administration have maintained silence on the matter, refraining from issuing any official statements at this point.
Following the incident, dozens of police officers supported by soldiers could be seen patrolling around the prison, where Ecuador’s most dangerous criminals are held.
At the main entrance to the penitentiary, a security cordon of around 10 men, armed with bullet-proof shields, strategically positioned themselves, maintaining the unimpeded flow of traffic on the adjacent highway.
Over the last 48 hours, additional visuals have come to light, exposing arrested suspected gang members subjected to humiliation—forced singing, involvement in physical altercations, and mistreatment by soldiers.
Read also: Ecuador President Declares ‘War’ Against Criminal Gangs
The small South American country has been thrust into an unparalleled security crisis since Sunday, ignited by the escape of Jose Adolfo Macias, known by the alias “Fito,” one of the country’s most influential narco bosses, from Guayaquil prison.
His escape triggered a sequence of events, including prison riots, hostage-taking, and attacks on the police.
President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency and ordered the army to neutralize the “terrorist” criminal gangs.
Over 22,400 soldiers were strategically deployed, executing thorough land, air, and sea patrols, conducting prison searches and raids, all while implementing a curfew.
Ecuador, once a haven of peace amidst major cocaine producers, is now in turmoil due to the increasing influence of transnational cartels exploiting its ports to traffic drugs to the United States and Europe.
With a population of around 17 million, the country faces the daunting presence of over 20,000 members in criminal gangs. The latest official report discloses 859 arrests, 25 recaptured escapees, five “terrorists” shot dead, and the release of 57 kidnapped individuals.
A disturbing video, captured in Machala prison in the southwest of the country and verified by police, depicts the lifeless body of a prisoner shrouded in plastic being callously tossed into the street from within the facility, currently dominated by inmates.
Additional images that have surfaced in the last 48 hours depict arrested suspected gang members enduring humiliation—being compelled to sing, subjected to physical altercations, or mistreated by soldiers.