Banned drugs and weapons were discovered in offices at Ecuadorean prisons on Friday, leading to the arrests of two wardens and seven other staff members, according to the country’s prosecutor.
Late in July, a wave of violence engulfed prisons, with a conflict between criminal gangs resulting in the deaths of at least 31 individuals in a penitentiary in Guayaquil.
On July 25, President Guillermo Lasso declared a 60-day state of emergency in response.
Ecuadorean security forces conducted inspections on Friday at two prisons in Guayaquil, including the Penitenciaria del Litoral, which is considered one of the most dangerous in the country.
The prosecutor’s office made a posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the search had uncovered drugs, firearms, explosives, and ammunition in the offices. Police subsequently arrested two wardens, five administrative officials, and two other prison staff members on drug-related charges.
The SNAI prison agency confirmed that “a series of prohibited objects” had been found inside.
The government attributes prison violence to internal strife among criminal factions battling for control within prisons and for dominion over drug trafficking routes outside.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has contended that the violence is a consequence of overcrowding, budget reductions, and violations of civil liberties.
(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
