Early in the New Year, a crisis unfolded in Ecuador as President Daniel Noboa announced a state of emergency. This action was taken to quell disorder in prisons following the escape of Los Choneros drug cartel leader Adolf Macias, also known as Fito. His escape triggered riots in six other prisons, resulting in police officers being taken hostage. Just a few days following Fito’s escape, Captain Pico, the head of Los Lobos, the country’s second-largest gang, managed to break free from prison in the city of Riobamba. In response to the escalating events, the government implemented a state of emergency that was to last for 60 days. This series of events has transformed Ecuador, which until recently was considered a relatively safe and stable country, into a battlefield.

In 2011, Fito was arrested and sentenced to 34 years for drug trafficking, gang activity, and murder. Before recent events, Fito posted a music video on YouTube from prison, mocking authorities for their inability to control prisons. The January prison riots served as a demonstration of the power of criminals in the face of weakening government structures. Furthermore, the high-profile murder of presidential candidate Villavicencio in August 2023, which prompted a state of emergency, aimed to demonstrate the cartels’ willingness to attack those who attempted to take down the drug trade. Villavicencio had vocally advocated for the end of the “narco-state” and restoring Ecuador to the rule of law. Prisons continue to function as operational hubs for gang leaders, maintaining connections with major drug trafficking organizations in neighboring countries such as the Mexican Cartel de Sinaloa. This intricate web of crime highlights the persistent challenges faced by Ecuador in combating organized crime.

Escalation and Aftermath

The unrest erupted on January 7, 2024, when Fito was found to be missing from his cell just before he was to be transferred to the La Roca high-security prison. Prison riots subsequently broke out, which authorities attributed to criminal gangs, with 15 guards taken hostage in one facility. The situation escalated on January 10 when masked armed individuals invaded the Guayaquil-based TC Television building, holding presenters hostage during a live broadcast. Although the assailants were apprehended, street riots ensued, with internet footage showing gang members forcibly removing people from vehicles and firing at passing cars. Guayaquil’s mayor reported nearly 2,000 incidents of looting and rioting. In response, President Noboa declared a 60-day state of emergency, implementing a nationwide curfew, with the military conducting raids on prison wings and gang-controlled areas. In the wake of this declaration of a national emergency, the number of inmates in prisons has risen to 4,680, sparking concerns about prison overcrowding. The United Nations (UN) reports that over 30,000 prisoners are crammed into facilities designed for 27,000, with just under 3,000 officers for supervision. The prison system thus suffers from glaring issues, such as widespread corruption, easy access to weapons and contraband, extortion, and ongoing power struggles among prisoners. Overcrowding in Ecuadorian prisons, coupled with a lack of government oversight, has enabled imprisoned gang members to commit several massacres that are among some of the country’s deadliest incidents. The control gangs have over prisons sparks fear among other prisoners and leads to a daily struggle for survival, thus impacting their mental health and well-being. In addition, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW), overcrowding means that many detainees have limited access to necessities, such as adequate food, water, and medicine. Additionally, there is insufficient support from the state on rehabilitation laws, thus there is a high rate of recidivism. Authorities’ failure to respond adequately and promptly to stop killings, assist relatives, and investigate crimes further exacerbates the situation.

Tough Measures

Following the disarmament of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2017, Ecuador became more prominent in the drug trade. In his election campaign, Daniel Noboa emphasized prioritization of improvement in the country’s security and has promised comprehensive prison reform, including introducing a system to isolate the most dangerous prisoners. Recently, he suggested placing them on offshore barges to prevent them from being able to participate in gang operations inside prison. Noboa also proposes criminalizing drug use even in small quantities, creating a jury system for serious crimes, and investing in technology such as drones and radar to disrupt organized crime on roads and at the border. He aims to address the problem by force, which has prompted the gangs to demonstrate their strength. Professor Jaehak Lee (Department of Spanish Language and Literature) commented that addressing the pervasive issue of drug trafficking across Latin America presents a formidable challenge, one that seems insurmountable. The pattern persists: when gang activity and drug trade diminish in one country of Latin America, it inevitably surges in another. He added that previous administrations, including those predating Noboa’s, have opted for a strategy of displaying force against drug cartels, yet the criminals remain largely undeterred by governmental measures. In the words of Pablo Escobar to government officials, “Silver or Lead. You decide,” they had to accept a bribe or risk becoming the target of a killing. Therefore, one potential approach to isolating dangerous criminals could involve transferring them to specialized prisons in the United States (U. S.), severing their ties to criminal organizations.

Ecuador is no longer merely a pathway for narcotrafficking to and from other countries; instead, criminal gangs have established a strong presence within the country, leading to the cultivation of illicit drugs and an increase in the smuggling of weapons. Noboa plans to take stricter measures against drug crimes but faces overpopulated prisons, with more than 400 deaths reported since 2021 in Ecuadorian prisons. Ecuador’s government is fighting an uphill battle, and it is hard to predict whether they will achieve victory over the drug mafia and shut down highly profitable cocaine routes.