Ecuadorian security officials have detained more than 6,600 people in the first month since Ecuador declared its anti-gang violence operation an official “internal armed conflict.”
Ecuador has been plagued by uncontrollable gang violence in recent years. war It cracked down on organized crime through a decree signed by President Daniel Novoa in January. The internal conflict law has designated more than 20 of Ecuador’s most dangerous criminal organizations as targets for the military, rather than the police.
A declaration of war comes with a state of exception. proclamation The statement was issued in response to a series of terrorist acts that occurred in early January, including kidnappings, prison riots, and the detonation of explosives against civilian and police vehicles. On January 9th, an armed group attacked. A storm has come They attacked a local news network, TC Television, kidnapping the station’s staff and placing improvised explosive devices in journalists’ pockets.
Police arrest one of the unidentified gunmen who stormed the state-run TC TV studio during a live broadcast in Guayaquil, Ecuador, January 9, 2024. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Violence has erupted in Ecuador following the escape from prison of Jose Adolfo “Fito” Macias, the leader of the country’s most notorious gang. Macias, who leads the Choneros gang, apparently says,Had disappeared” from a prison cell in Guayaquil earlier this year.
According to the latest information from the Ecuadorian government dated February 7, since the signing of the War Decree, the country’s security forces have carried out more than 77,870 security operations, resulting in the arrest of 6,626 people, 241 of whom are facing charges. He was arrested. Have committed terrorist activities.
#PlanPhoenix | On February 7, 2024, there will be a state of emergency in September. #juntoscontraelterrorism #elnuevoecuador pic.twitter.com/gYjKcfQ9AL
— President of Ecuador (@Presidencia_Ec) February 7, 2024
As of February 7, the Ecuadorian government has also seized 2,116 firearms, 3,038 knives, 1,197 gun magazines, approximately 144,000 rounds of ammunition, approximately 10,000 explosives, and more than $168,000 from suspects. announced. Police also seized 46.8 tonnes of drugs during this period. Two police officers were reported killed during the ongoing security operation.
The results of the first month of declaration of war were framed as part of Novoa’s “Phoenix Plan,” a wide-ranging list of security-related measures aimed at curbing Ecuador’s crime, gang violence and drug trafficking problems. Ta.
Soldiers patrol outside the government palace during a state of emergency declared in Quito, Ecuador on January 9, 2024. The country has been hit by a series of attacks after the government declared a state of emergency following the apparent escape of a powerful gang leader. From prison. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
As part of the broader plan, construction Two new maximum-security prisons similar to “mega-prisons” built It was carried out by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele in 2023 as part of the country’s ongoing crackdown on gang violence. Construction of the two prisons will begin in January and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
WATCH — Law and Order: El Salvador builds ‘giant prison’ to fight gangs:
The Novoa administration is also in the process of preparing a national plan. referendum. Most of the 11 questions in the upcoming referendum concern specific security-related proposals, such as extending prison sentences for drug trafficking, terrorism, murder, arms trafficking and other crimes, or authorizing a series of referendums. It asks voters whether they agree with the Immigration reform to strengthen Ecuador’s security.
The Ecuadorian government is also planning large-scale implementation. deportation Reduced the number of foreign prison inmates to reduce prison overcrowding.
Ecuador’s crime statistics show 2023 was the country’s most violent year in recent memory, with 7,270 murders. Registered That’s a 69 percent increase from 2022, when there were 4,294 homicides, according to local authorities.
The prevalence of violence made its presence known during last year’s presidential election campaign. Most notably, assassination Anti-socialist and anti-China candidate Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio, a former journalist, was killed in August on his way home from an election rally. A few days later, Gunfight The incident was reported near Novoa’s campaign rally, but no injuries were reported in the incident.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
