At least thirteen prisoners have been killed and four more injured — three inmates and a guard — in clashes between different criminal gangs inside the Litoral Penitentiary, Ecuador’s largest and most populated prison, in the province of Guayaquil. There are also seven escaped prisoners.
The incidents have been taking place since 2:40 p.m. Friday afternoon in pavilions 3, 5, 8 and 9 of the prison between members of the gangs Los Lobos, Los Tiguerones and Los Choneros, explained the prison director, Ronald Sanchez, as quoted by ‘El Universo’.
The center is currently under control. However, the security institutions continue with the intervention works. Due to the events registered, the procedures and procedures of verification will be maintained during the following hours and the officialization of data with the Prosecutor’s Office is expected, as provided by the regulations», indicated the Ecuadorian National Service of Integral Attention of Prisoners of Liberty (SNAI), according to Ecuavisa channel.
The authorities are still evaluating the number of victims of the confrontation, which has involved prisoners from wards 3, 5, 8 and 9.
Last Tuesday six inmates from ward 5 were found hanged in their cells. In addition, last Wednesday three prison guards were killed after being shot during their lunch break in front of the prison.
This prison has been the scene of several killings between rival gangs since 2020, in which more than 450 prisoners have died.
For several months, Ecuador has been facing a wave of violent crimes, which have led to the resignation of the Secretary of Public Security and for which military operations to control weapons, ammunition and explosives have been »massified» and will be permanent throughout the country.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
