Long a peaceful haven wedged between top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, Ecuador has seen violence explode in recent years as rival gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels battle for control.
Gangsters declared war on Tuesday following the jailbreak Sunday of one of Ecuador’s most powerful narco bosses.
Following the escape of Jose Adolfo Macias, also known as ‘Fito’ – leader of Ecuador’s largest gang Los Choneros – Noboa declared a state of emergency and a curfew for the entire country on Monday.
Gangs retaliated, taking police officers hostage, causing explosions in several cities and storming a studio of state-owned TC Television in Guayaquil on Tuesday with guns and explosives.
Police entered the studio after about 30 minutes of chaos.
President Daniel Noboa called the crisis an “internal armed conflict” and ordered military operations against gangs he described as “terrorist organizations and belligerent non-state actors.”
A manhunt is underway for Fito, who had served a 34-year prison sentence for organized crime, drug trafficking and murder.