In Ecuador, armed men wearing masks attacked a TV station live during a broadcast. This attack revealed the spiraling violence of the country in the aftermath of a recent apparent prison escape.

On Sunday, the imprisoned head of a drug-gang vanished mysteriously from his cell at the coast city of Guayaquil. The government was forced to declare an emergency.

On Tuesday, thousands tuned into TC Television to watch live as men threatened studio staff and presenters with guns and explosives that looked like sticks of dynamite. There were sounds that sounded like shots, along with pleas for help and groans of pain.

The police neutralized the area and arrested thirteen people. The Attorney General’s Office in Ecuador announced Tuesday that the 13 people would be charged with terrorism and could face up to thirteen years of imprisonment.

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Adolfo “Fito” Macias – the leader of Los Choneros, who is also known as Adolfo Mackias – made an apparent escape. He was serving a sentence of 36 years for murder, drug-trafficking and other crimes.

When did criminal violence in Ecuador increase?

In February 2021, a mass murder took place in the Literol Penitentiary in Ecuador. It was the beginning of the recent violence surge. At least 79 people were killed, sparking a series shocking incidents in Ecuadorian jails.

In September, the worst prison massacre in the country took place in one prison. 116 prisoners were killed, and several of them were beheaded. In total, 18 prisoner clashes resulted in the deaths of more than 450 individuals.

Authorities claim that disputes between prison gangs led to the death of Los Choneros leader Jorge Luis Zambrano (alias “Rasquina” in December 2020 in an effort to usurp the power of the man. The local groups that are affiliated with the gang have been divided over the control of the territory in order to control the drug distribution. Authorities claim that some of these gangs are linked to Mexico’s Sinaloa New Generation and Jalisco New Generation cartels.

The violence that occurs within prison walls has spilled out into the streets. Kidnappings, murders, robberies and extortion are rampant, making Ecuador one of the most violent countries in the world. The last year was the bloodiest on record for Ecuador, with over 7,600 murders. This is a significant increase from the 4,600 murders in previous years.

What is the government doing to control the situation?

Daniel Noboa took office on November 23 and has pledged to eliminate violence with his Phoenix Plan. He has not revealed the details. Noboa declared a curfew and state of emergency on Monday to deal with the crisis. He also tasked police and armed forces to enforce compliance. The law restricts people’s rights to freely move, to assemble, and to enter their homes without a judge’s order.

The attack on TC Television prompted another decree. This time, it recognized that the country has an armed conflict at home and identified more than a dozen groups as “terrorists” and “belligerent non-state agents.” These include the Choneros Lobos Tiguerones Aguilas.

The decree allowed the military to conduct military operations in order “to neutralize identified groups” while adhering to international humanitarian law.

What is the cause of violence in Ecuador?

Authorities claim that the violence began in prisons due to disputes among gangs over control of penitentiaries and national and international routes for drug smuggling and turf for the sale drugs.

The violence that spread beyond the prisons shattered Ecuadorians’ tranquility and forced them to shut down their small and medium sized businesses as they were overrun by extortionists.

Former Ecuadorian defense minister Luis Hernandez told The Associated Press the episode in the TV studio was unprecedented. It revealed that organized crime groups had “perceived” the state’s weaknesses and could easily take actions “to terrorize and panic the state.”

Hernandez backed the president’s declaration that an armed conflict exists and allows the use of deadly force. Noboa, he said, should send a strong message to the people to resist fear and chaos.