Ecuador’s ‘Most Wanted’ Criminal Has Disappeared From Prison
TimeDec 29, 2023
Ecuador Declares Curfew After Druglord 'Fito' Escapes Prison Cell
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The Facts
On Monday, Ecuador’s newly-elected president, Daniel Noboa, declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew following the prison cell escape of druglord Jose Adolfo Macias, aka Fito, who is described as "extremely dangerous." Violence also broke out across multiple prisons in Ecuador.
Fito is the leader of the powerful Los Choneros gang and is being held at Guayaquil, a maximum-security facility. His absence from his assigned area of the prison was discovered on Sunday. It's unclear how long he has been missing and if he has left the facility or is hiding in another area within it.
The Spin
Narrative A
Daniel Noboa has taken the helm in his presidency with the intent to end violent crime in Ecuador. He recently announced that two new prisons will be built far away from the violence centers where brutality has taken over in recent years. His long-term plan is to restore the country to the peace it saw before being overrun with drugs and violence from Columbia and Peru.
Narrative B
The politicians and police of Ecuador have proven that they cannot be trusted. Families and business owners are left to fend for themselves against the violent gangs that have infiltrated their neighborhoods. They are forced to pay the criminals their meager earnings and if they refuse, they must pay with their lives or the lives of loved ones. Noboa faces tremendous odds at bringing about law and order — especially when organized crime is so deeply tied to systemic corruption.
