A fierce clash between rival gangs in a prison in Ecuador’s coastal city of Esmeraldas left at least 17 people dead, according to a statement from the National Police.
“This situation stems from an external order from the Los Tigeron Organized Crime Group to eliminate members of prisoners who are not affiliated with Los Lobos, Los Chonelos and Los Tigron,” police said.
Police confirmed security operations were being deployed in the central area of Esmeraldas Prison, warning that deaths could increase as bodies continue to recover.
A preliminary report showed that a clash began in one of the prison cell blocks after an ambush in which the prisoner stole cell phone keys.
“The appropriate authorities are conducting a response investigation to clarify what happened. We will provide details immediately,” Ecuadorian national prison agency Snai said in a statement.
CNN contacted President Ecuador for more details.
The prison massacre came three days after a fatal incident at Machala Prison in El Oro Province, where 14 prisoners were killed, according to police.
Colonel William Fabian Carré reported that after police entered Machala prison they found 14 wounded prisoners and the prison guards who were shot dead with one of their phones.
“We know there’s a gang conflict in this prison. Two cell blocks are controlled by organized crime groups. That’s where these murders occur. The problem is how they’ve been transferred to the other wings because there are some filters,” Calle says.
Since 2021, more than 500 inmates have died in Ecuador. Prison violence comes into a state of internal armed conflict that has been in effect nationwide since January 2024 despite military and police deployments in some prisons.
