The day after the masked gunmen broke into the live television broadcast, the streets of Ecuador were empty, and Daniel Noboa declared a "state of war" against drug gangs. Residents of the capital, Quito, and the port city of Guayaquil likened the atmosphere to a pandemic-era lockdown, when many businesses closed and schools closed.
It's terrible, the streets are empty," said Rodolfo Tuaz, a 40-year-old security guard. "It was a very cold environment, as if there was a new covid epidemic. ”
Previously, live television footage aired on Tuesday showed people in GuayaquilEcuadorInside TC TVWears a balaclava- Some are brandishing guns. Allegedly, gang members told TC staff to lie on the floor and claimed they had "bombs" while shouting and sounding similar to gunfire could be heard in the background.
*Nearly 330 people have been convicted of terrorist acts**, including 13 in connection with the live-streamed raid, *said. In a new statement, Noboa** said: "We are at war and we cannot give in.
We took measures that we should have taken a long time ago, and the past ** did not make the right decisions," he said. "We live in a state of war against terrorism, these are not organized crime groups, but *** access to resources through drug trafficking, human trafficking, organ trafficking, gun smuggling.
He designated 22 gangs as terrorist organizations, making them official military targets. Judges, prosecutors and gangs who work with gangs will be considered part of a terrorist network, warned.
Riots were sparked after the disappearance of Los Choneros, one of Ecuador's most powerful drug gangs, from prison.
Adolfo Macias – also known as Fito – who served a 34-year sentence in the La Regional Prison for drug trafficking and ** crimes, reportedly disappeared from his cell on January 6.
Noboa** declared a 60-day state of emergency, and more than 130 prison guards and staff were held hostage inside the prison, following a series of incidents reported in the South American country.
*Claims that the latest wave of violence is a response to a plan to build new high-security prisons for gang leaders. The country will also begin deporting foreign prisoners, especially Colombians, in order to reduce the prison population and expenditures.