A fresh outbreak of violence shook Ecuador’s prison system this week, occurring at Litoral Prison, the country’s largest and most crowded facility, located in the port city of Guayaquil. According to official reports from the National Prison Service (SNAI), one inmate has died and eleven people were wounded, including six prisoners and five police officers who were defending or attempting to regain control. Authorities indicated that the body was recovered from pavilion 9 after security forces entered the area and the clash among inmates spilled into the corridor of the facility. This incident follows a recurring pattern of violence that has plagued the nation’s penitentiaries in recent days, echoing a notorious massacre at Latacunga prison in Cotopaxi that left many dead and dozens injured just days earlier.
Sources from SNAI describe a confrontation between prisoners from pavilions 2 and 3 and the inmates in pavilion 9, a conflict that underscores ongoing tensions within the prison’s internal factions. Police reported that five officers were wounded by gunfire while they worked to restore order; authorities did not declare full control until late in the evening, around 10 p.m. local time. The events unfolded in a context of heightened security concerns and rapid responses from security forces.
Litoral Prison currently houses more than 6,800 inmates and has been under intense scrutiny as Ecuador undergoes a period of significant prison disturbance. The mid-year violence has created concern about systemic issues, particularly after a massacre in Latacunga on September 28 where a large number of inmates were killed. In the aftermath, the prison system transferred a substantial cohort of 135 inmates from Latacunga to other facilities across the country, a move described by SNAI as part of a broader effort to temper rival gang activity and restore some measure of control.
These latest developments come within a broader pattern of recurring clashes in Ecuadorian prisons that have intensified since 2020, when violence among rival gangs began to escalate and spread. Observers note that the country’s penitentiary network has faced persistent challenges including overcrowding, limited resources, and the proliferation of illicit arms within facilities. Reports indicate a substantial arsenals issue inside several prisons, with firearms and makeshift weapons often cited as factors in the severity of outbreaks. Authorities emphasize that the goal remains to reduce violence, protect staff and inmates, and reestablish a secure environment across the system.
As the nation continues to confront this crisis, experts stress the importance of comprehensive reforms that address the root causes of violence inside prisons. These include improvements in staffing, training, intake screening, and rehabilitation programs designed to reduce recidivism. In the short term, SNAI and other agencies are working to improve incident reporting, fast-track medical care for the injured, and ensure that security protocols are consistently applied in all facilities. The recent events at Litoral highlight the ongoing, urgent need for policy measures that can prevent similar outbreaks of violence and protect both inmates and law enforcement personnel who serve in challenging environments.