Ecuador has entered a state of emergency lasting 60 days following the disappearance of Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as ‘Fito,’ the leader of Los Choneros, a prominent gang linked to recent deadly prison riots.
‘Fito’ was held in a maximum-security section of a Guayaquil jail.
The emergency measures include a suspension of the right to assemble and a nightly curfew, announced via a decree by President Daniel Noboa, one of the youngest presidents in Ecuadorian history.
He was elected amid a campaign marked by exceptional violence, including the assassination of another candidate, Fernando Villavicencio.
President Noboa stated that the emergency status empowers the military and police to assume control of national prisons due to groups like Los Choneros, who hold significant influence in La Regional prison, where ‘Fito’ was detained.
He emphasized, “We will not negotiate with terrorists and we will not rest until we have restored peace.”
‘Fito,’ a notorious criminal linked to the killing of Villavicencio, was noticed missing by the police early on Sunday.
Known for defiance, he recently released a music video within the jail, depicting his criminal life and receiving praise from his daughter and a musical duo.
Authorities suspect a breach of the ban on electronic devices in the prison allowed the video’s recording.
It remains uncertain whether ‘Fito’ escaped the prison compound or is hiding within. Police are conducting extensive searches within the large prison complex housing over 12,000 inmates.
‘Fito’ has a history of evading confinement, having previously escaped La Roca prison in 2013 and being recaptured months later.
After the killing of Jorge Luis Zambrano in 2020, he assumed leadership of Los Choneros, a gang primarily involved in drug trafficking and extortion, known for its connections to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.
Source-BBC
