Quito, Ecuador: Eight inmates have been killed and 10 others injured in prison riots in Ecuador, officials said on Thursday, as authorities continue to grapple with violence linked to drug-trafficking gangs operating behind bars.
Four inmates died at the Cotopaxi penitentiary and another four at Pichincha prison, according to the country’s corrections authorities.
More than 500 inmates have been killed in Ecuador’s prisons since 2021, amid persistent violence involving rival criminal groups. Although some facilities are under military control, drug-trafficking gangs continue to challenge authorities, orchestrating killings and extortion from inside prison walls.
Officials said those identified as responsible for the latest riots would be transferred to El Encuentro, a maximum-security prison built under President Daniel Noboa’s government to hold the country’s most wanted criminals.
What Happened
The violence began on Thursday afternoon, with reports of gunfire and disturbances inside the prisons. At El Inca prison, forensic personnel reported bodies bearing gunshot and knife wounds, while preliminary information pointed to a dispute between criminal gangs.
Security forces sealed access routes near the Quito facility as operations continued to restore order.
The latest unrest comes days after SNAI began reassessing the security risk posed by 9,214 inmates in prisons in Cotopaxi, Azuay, Tungurahua and Chimborazo. The measure aims to weaken criminal groups operating inside prisons.
The latest deaths raise concerns about the effectiveness of efforts to contain gang rivalries and maintain security behind bars.
Authorities are expected to continue forensic examinations to identify the dead and assess the injuries. Further security operations, searches and transfers of high-risk inmates may follow, while the incident could prompt renewed scrutiny of prison conditions and security procedures.
